Drilling off the Lebanese coast has shown some traces of gas but no commercially viable reserves, Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar says.
“Initial drilling results showed the presence of gas at different depths in the geological layers” of block 4, he tells reporters at a news conference.
But around two months after drilling started “no gas reservoir, no commercial reservoir was found,” he says.
Anticipation had been high in Lebanon for the results of gas and oil exploration, with many hoping a major hydrocarbon discovery could help redress the debt-burdened economy.
A consortium composed of energy giants Total, Eni and Novatek was awarded two of Lebanon’s 10 exploration blocks in 2018 — block 4, and block 9 near the Israeli border.
French oil firm Total has yet to release its full report on the exploration of block 4, with Ghajar saying it would be ready in two months.
— AFP
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