In an atmosphere of optimism, the oil and gas drilling ship "BARENTS TRANSOCEAN" has arrived at the designated drilling point in Block 9, operated by "TotalEnergies," to begin its activities. The first helicopter also arrived at Beirut Airport, as Lebanon hopes that oil and gas discoveries will help it emerge from its economic crisis.
**67 Days to Maximum Depth**
In this context, Wisam Shbat, a board member of the Petroleum Authority, revealed to "Warda" that the drilling ship is located 6 km away from the recently drawn southern maritime border, where the water depth is 1650 meters. Drilling will occur at a depth of 2700 meters offshore in the potentially rich Kana field. He noted that the platform needs about a week to ten days to position itself over the well and must be supplied logistically and with necessary equipment and raw materials from the Port of Beirut. Following that, a waiting period of 67 days will follow to reach the maximum drilling depth.
Regarding the possibility that the Israeli side has violated Lebanese depths and encroached on its oil resources, Wisam Shbat clarified that it is possible for the Israeli side to engage in horizontal drilling using available technologies, "but this matter does not exist." He added, "The oil fields discovered by the Israeli side do not extend into Lebanese maritime borders, but there is a possibility that the potentially rich Kana field extends southwards, although there are no nearby production wells, and all these matters will be confirmed by the drilling process." Shbat further explained that all fields currently being worked on in Israel are closed before Line 23.
**Will Block 9 Meet the Fate of Block 4?**
For his part, researcher and political writer Dr. Imran Zahwa indicated to "Warda" that accurate information about the quantities of gas in Block 9 could emerge within two to three months, emphasizing that any comments on this matter now are "futile." He expressed hope for promising quantities, particularly in the Kana field. Amid fears that Block 9 might meet the same fate as Block 4, where there are many interpretations regarding the reasons for "Total" suspending its activities in Block 4, he pointed out that he tried to access the French report from the Petroleum Authority without success.
On the possibility that Israel has expanded its exploration operations towards Block 9, Zahwa pointed out that he urged Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Elias Bou Saab and all those involved in border demarcation negotiations to have underwater maps, under the auspices of the United Nations and U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, to ensure that the Lebanese state is aware of the shared resources, but this has not occurred. Zahwa argued that the state should reconsider the contract with "Total" to ensure Lebanon receives a larger share, questioning, "Why all this derision regarding the state's resources?" He hopes that the Lebanese Sovereign Fund for Oil and Gas will not be subjected to political allocation.
It is worth noting that "TotalEnergies" has been present in Lebanon since 2018, the year in which exploration and production agreements for Blocks 4 and 9 were signed. As the operator of these blocks, "TotalEnergies" completed the first exploratory well ever drilled in deep Lebanese waters in Block 4 in early 2020. According to its contractual commitments with its partners "Eni" and "QatarEnergy," "TotalEnergies" is preparing to drill a second well in Block 9 during 2023.
**What Do You Know About "BARENTS TRANSOCEAN"?**
TRANSOCEAN BARENTS is a sixth-generation platform built in 2009 at the Aker Stord shipyard in Norway, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. It has a carrying capacity of 64,000 tons, a total length of 120 meters, and a width of 77 meters. The rig can accommodate 140 people on board and can drill in water depths of up to 3000 meters and wells at depths of 10,000 meters.
