Energean have started drilling the Hermes-01 well offshore Israel. The well is targeting the Tamar D sands in the Miocene, in what is recognised as a prolific gas basin in the Levant Basin.
The well is being drilled in Block 31 by the Stena IceMax in 1,620 m water, and should reach TD in September. The well is one of two option wells taken by Energean when they were awarded the acreage in 2017.
Hermes is one of around 6 prospects in a cluster of Tamar structures similar to the Tamar Field immediately to the northwest, which is already in production (Chevron and partners). Leviathan and Tamar were the first major gas discoveries in the basin (2010) after which Karish and Tanin were discovered by Delek in 2011. Energean purchased the Karish and Tarin gas fields from Delek and Avner in 2016. The Karish field remains on track for first gas in late 2022.
The Stena rig contract was extended this year after successful wells at KM4 (Karish) and the new field discovery Athena 1 in Block 12. Should Hermes be successful, Energean will opt to drill the second well, Hercules 1, in what the operator is called the Olympus Area.
PETER ELLIOTT – NVentures
peter.elliott@nventures.co.uk
