Noble Energy paves way for Leviatan, Tamar gas flow to Egypt

Noble Energy has executed multiple agreements to support delivery of natural gas from the Leviathan and Tamar fields, offshore Israel, into Egypt.   

Keith Elliott, Noble Energy’s senior vice president, offshore, said the agreements mark the steps forward in supplying natural gas from the Tamar and Leviathan fields to regional customers through existing infrastructure.

They also represent another milestone toward Egypt’s goal to become a regional energy hub, providing access to both growing domestic markets and existing LNG export facilities.

“With these agreements, we are securing the capacity to deliver on our firm gas sales agreement with Dolphinus for Leviathan while also allowing for interruptible sales from Tamar into Egypt,” Elliot said.

Noble Energy and certain partners are acquiring an effective 39 percent equity interest in Eastern Mediterranean Gas Company which owns the EMG Pipeline.

The EMG Pipeline is an approximately 90-kilometer pipeline located primarily offshore, connecting the Israel pipeline network from Ashkelon to the Egyptian pipeline network near El Arish.

Noble Energy will own an effective, indirect interest in the pipeline of approximately 10 percent.

In addition, and upon closing of the transaction, Noble Energy and partners will enter into an agreement to operate the pipeline, securing access to the pipeline’s full capacity.

Technical evaluation and flow reversal planning work on the EMG Pipeline is ongoing.

The company’s estimated acquisition costs are approximately $200 million, payable at closing.  The closing of all transactions is expected in early 2019.

Initial gas delivery through the EMG Pipeline is expected to occur from the Tamar field to Dolphinus Holdings Limited in Egypt, under the company’s existing interruptible natural gas sales agreement. At startup of the Leviathan field by the end of 2019, the company anticipates selling at least 350 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, gross, to contracted customers in Egypt.

Noble Energy also secured an option for an additional route and capacity to transport natural gas within Egypt by entering into a definitive transportation agreement with the owner and operator of the Aqaba El Arish Pipeline.

This agreement will support the transportation of additional quantities of natural gas to Egypt over and above the amounts through the EMG Pipeline.