Home inSight Israel grants Murphy Oil licenses near Leviathan gas field

Israel grants Murphy Oil licenses near Leviathan gas field

Reuters •
SOURCE
Israel’s Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo courtesy of NewMed Energy.

Nov 9 (Reuters) – US oil and gas producer Murphy Oil (MUR.N) said ​on Monday it had ‌been awarded six exploration licenses in Zone G offshore Israel, ​marking its entry ​into the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The ⁠licenses cover about 1,700 ​square kilometers offshore Israel, about ​25 km southwest of Leviathan, one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s largest ​natural gas fields and ​a major source of supply for ‌Israel ⁠and neighboring markets, particularly Egypt.

Under the award, a Murphy unit will operate the ​licenses and ​hold ⁠a 50% stake, while Israel-based Ratio Energies (RATIp.TA) ​will hold the ​remaining ⁠50%

The companies will collaborate to further assess the exploration ⁠potential ​of the Zone ​G acreage.

Reporting by Anushree Mukherjee in ​Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid