By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 3 -- Consulting engineers, using cores from the Tamar-2 appraisal well in the eastern Mediterranean off Israel, have estimated Tamar field’s recoverable gas at 8.7 tcf proved and probable, said Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd.
Delek Group, Tel Aviv, a partner in Tamar, said the volumes will be categorized as proved and probable reserves subject to approval of the Tamar field development plan. The previous estimate was 7.7 tcf. Proved recoverable volumes are 6.5 tcf, up from 6 tcf (OGJ, Oct. 6, 2008, p. 41).
Meanwhile, Noble revealed preliminary findings from the processing and interpretation of 3D seismic shot on the Amit, Rachel, and parts of the Hannah, David, and Eran (Ratio Yam) licenses and the Alon A and Alon B licenses.
Noble estimated a gross mean recoverable resource of the Leviathan prospect on the Rachel and Amit licenses to be 16 tcf with 50% probability of geologic success. The prospect is found in Tertiary layers of sand that correspond to the reservoir sands identified in Tamar.
Noble plans to recommend to the partners the drilling of an exploratory well on the Leviathan prospect to spud in this year’s fourth quarter, subject to partner approval.
Noble also identified other Tertiary prospects on the Ratio Yam license with 3 tcf of unrisked estimated gross mean resource potential.
Noble said that based on 2D and 3D seismic it has identified more Tertiary prospects in other licenses including Block 12 off Cyprus. Noble estimated unrisked gross mean resource potential at more than 30 tcf including Leviathan and all of the other prospects.
“Furthermore,” Delek Group said, “Noble noted that it began to examine the potential existence of additional layers of pre-Miocene age (significantly deeper than the Tertiary sand layers) in the partnership’s licenses (including the Tamar and Dalit areas), which may have further potential for oil and gas. These examinations have not yet crystallized into specific prospects.”
Tamar field holding percentages are Noble Mediterranean 36%, Isramco Negev 2 LP 28.75%, Delek Drilling LP 15.625%, Avner Oil Exploration LP 15.625%, and Dor Gas Exploration LP 4%.
Noble also estimated that gas reserves in Mari-B field, 70 miles south of Tamar, may increase by 50-100 bcf based on production data and reservoir pressure history.
