FRANCE'S Total and partners are poised to drill their first wildcat on Block 4 off Lebanon despite growing nationwide protests in a country in financial and political crisis, writes Nassir Shirkhani. Total chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told Upstream: "We are going to drill in 2020. We are ready and the(drilling rig) is on its way." He did not give an exact spud date but indicated it will be early in the new year. Vantage Drilling of the US is set to provide the rig, with the drillship Tungsten Explorer having previously drilled the Nour prospect in Egypt for partner Eni, which has a 40% stake in Block 4. Total is also on 40% while Russia's Novatek has a 20% stake. Total's first well in the Block 4 frontier play in the East Mediterranean will be located north-west of Beirut, targeting an oil play in the southern part of the acreage.
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