Noble starts up massive Leviathan project in Israel
https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Noble-starts-up-massive-Leviathan-project-in-14941251.phpDecember 31, 2019
Noble Energy started production early Tuesday on the massive Leviathan natural gas project offshore of Israel, achieving a major milestone for a discovery made nearly a decade ago.
The Leviathan startup by the Houston oil and gas producer puts Israel on the path of becoming a natural gas exporter after decades of relying on energy imports and coal-fired electricity. The Leviathan is the largest known natural gas field in the growing Eastern Mediterranean region that’s attracting other top oil and gas players, including the Texas energy major Exxon Mobil.
“This is a project that’s been about a decade in the making and it has very significant benefits for the environment, economies and the energy security for the region,†said Noble President Brent Smolik in a phone interview from Israel. “It’s a great day here in Israel. It’s changing the country and it’s changing this part of the world. We’re just proud to be part of it.â€
Noble aimed to bring Leviathan online before the end of this year and just narrowly succeeded with the New Year’s Eve startup. The nearly $4 billion project was delayed a bit in December until a judge lifted an injunction that threatened to stall production because of environmental concerns....