Noble Energy has warned that development of the Leviathan gasfield offshore Israel will be delayed by at least a year, according to its CEO Charles Davidson.
He told delegates at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 Global Energy Conference that the deepwater rig scheduled to drill Leviathan’s oil-bearing formation will be redeployed elsewhere.
Davidson said: “After an unbelievably long period, we received the OK of the Israeli government for exports.
“I couldn’t believe that it took so long,” he said, adding that multiple meetings were needed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain the significance of the delays in granting the necessary permits.
“I was impressed that the Supreme Court made a decision the day after hearing the parties, but the delay did push back Leviathan about a year.”
Meanwhile, it is known that Noble needs a high-spec rig for exploration off the Falklands starting during Q4 next year.
Might there be a match?