US energy group Noble Energy plans to start the development of the Leviathan gas project offshore Israel in 2017, so that the field could start production at the end of 2019. In 2017, the group plans to invest US$550m for the initial development of the project, including drilling one production well, long-lead investment items, and ramp up of construction activities.
The Leviathan gas field was discovered in 2010 and is estimated to hold 470 bcm of gas reserves. The initial Leviathan field development will be a subsea tie-back to a shallow-water platform with a pipeline connection to mainland Israel and to Jordan. Noble Energy operates Leviathan with a 39.66% working interest. Other interest owners are Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration with 22.67% each, and Ratio Oil Exploration with the remaining 15%.
Overall, Noble Energy plans to invest US$2.3-2.6bn in 2017, including US$1.825bn in the US onshore (US$850m in the DJ Basin, US$500m in the Delaware Basin and US$325m in the Eagle Ford region, with US$150m for the completion of previously-drilled uncompleted wells in the Marcellus Shale).