ExxonMobil makes natural gas discovery offshore Cyprus

ExxonMobil has announced a natural gas discovery offshore Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean on Block 10. The Glaucus-1 well cut 436 feet of reservoir rock. Evaluation of the potential of Block 10 continues.

The well was drilled to 13,780 feet in 6,769 feet of water. ExxonMobil said preliminary interpretation of the well data indicates gas resources of 5-8 tcf although additional analysis will determine resource potential.

Glaucus-1 was the second well drilled on Block 10. The first well, Delphyne-1, did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

“These are encouraging results in a frontier exploration area,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

Block 10 covers 635,554 acres. ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Cyprus (Offshore) Ltd operates the block with 60% interest. Qatar Petroleum International Upstream holds the remaining interest.

Eastern Mediterranean exploration

Block 10 is south-west of Block 3 where Turkish military vessels blocked drilling planned by Eni SpA.

The Saipem 12000 drillship was moving from the Calypso well to Block 3 in the north-eastern part of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone when it was turned away by Turkish ships.

Turkey disputes Cyprus’s offshore territorial claims, which it long has argued should not be addressed until unification of the island nation now divided between Greek and Turkish sectors.

Elsewhere, Total SA sought an interest from Eni in Block 8 off Cyprus.

Block 8 is directly south of the island. Total and Eni are partners in Block 6, where Eni, the operator, reported a natural gas discovery in its 1 Calypso NFW well.

Source: Oil & Gas Journal