Drive for gas opens prospect of Mediterranean pipeline network

摘要

EXPLORATION DRILLING in the Eastern Mediterranean continues to deliver giant gas discoveries. The question is, how much of these are actually needed to satisfy demand from the prime European market, with strong competition from other sources such as the Caspian Sea and Qatar? Russia, too, has ambitions to expand supplies to the West through new subsea trunkline systems in the Baltic and Black seas. Earlier this year ExxonMobil and partner Qatar Petroleum proved gas at the second attempt on block 10 offshore southwest Cyprus, after their first well on the Delphyne prospect was unsuccessful. The second, on the Glaucus structure in 2,063 m (6,769 ft) of water, penetrated 133 m (436 ft) of gas-bearing reservoir. Early analysis indicated a 5-8 tcf resource, although further work would be needed over the next few months to firm up the potential, ExxonMobil said.