Greece summons Turkish ambassador over gas exploration applications

Source: eKathimerini

June 1 2020

Greece’s Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Turkish ambassador to deliver a demarche over the publication in the Turkish government’s gazette of Turkish Petroleum’s (TPAO) applications for an exploration permit in areas of the Greek continental shelf, diplomatic sources said.

The publication showed a map with the 24 blocks that Ankara has demarcated from its shores to the point where its sea borders meet Libya, based on the maritime border agreement it signed with the North African country’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) last December.

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said the publication was another step in Ankara’s efforts to “usurp Greece’s sovereign rights.”  

"Greece was and remains fully prepared to deal with this provocation, if Turkey decides to implement it."

Dendias said Athens' views on this issue are well-known and have been "repeatedly conveyed" to Turkey.

The exploration permits come after Libya’s internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal with Turkey last year, aiming to create an exclusive economic zone that stretches from its southern coast to Libya’s northeast coast.

Turkey says may begin oil exploration under Libya deal in 3-4 months

Source: Middle East Monitor

May 30 2020

Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya that was condemned by others in the region including Greece, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday, Reuters reports.

Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal last year. Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya’s northeast coast, and protects rights to resources.

Greece, Cyprus and others oppose the accord and call it illegal, an accusation Ankara has rejected. The European Union also opposes the maritime deal that was signed alongside an agreement for Turkey to provide military support to the GNA, which has battled forces based in eastern Libya for more than a year.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkey’s Fatih oil-and-gas drilling ship to the Black Sea, Donmez said Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), which had applied for an exploration permit in the eastern Mediterranean, would begin operations in areas under its license after the process was completed.

“Within the framework of the agreement we reached with Libya we will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months,” Donmez said. Turkey’s new Kanuni drill ship would also go to the Mediterranean later this year, he added.

The move could further stoke tensions in the region, where Turkey has been at loggerheads for years with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel over ownership of natural resources. Turkey could also face possible EU sanctions over its operations.

Separately, Donmez said the Fatih drill ship would hold its first operation in the Black Sea on July 15, the anniversary of a 2016 failed coup attempt. Friday also marked the anniversary of Istanbul’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

Turkish FM warns Greece on steps in Aegean

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (2nd R) visits Bet Israel Synagogue in İzmir. ‘Negotiation channels with Greece are present ’ FM says.

Πηγή: Hurriyet Daily News
Jan 8 2013

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has warned Greece not to take unilateral steps concerning the dispute over natural resources in the Aegean, saying such steps would prompt Turkey to take counter measures.
When reminded of news reports suggesting Athens had been planning to start digging in disputed areas of the Aegean Sea to search for natural resources, Davutoğlu said the issue was being followed very closely.

“Negotiation channels with Greece are present,” he said, adding that such issues were being discussed during meetings between himself and Greek counterpart, Dimitris Droutsas.

“Unilateral steps should be avoided during such critical periods, because currently there is a positive atmosphere between Turkey and Greece,” Davutoğlu said.

The minister also noted that the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Partnership Council between the two countries would likely be held in March.

“While Turkey-Greece relations have gained momentum, it is important that we take all steps together and as part of these negotiations,” he said.

“I hope no need will be felt for this. There is already a mechanism functioning with Greece,” Davutoğlu said, in an apparent reference to exploratory talks between the two neighbors. More than 50 rounds of talks have been held since 2002 in order to find a way to solve the problems stemming from the absence of a border between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea.

Editor's Note: You might like to read "16 islands snatched by Greece due to Turkey's negligence, experts claim" about the 16 islands which Yalım - a member of the high-advisory board of the Democrat Party (DP) - claims to be Turkish.

Oil Search Dilutes Interests in Yemen with Sale of Block 3 Stake to Total

Πηγή: Rigzone
By Quintella Koh|
Dec 31 2012

Australia-listed Oil Search revealed Monday that it has completed the sale of its 40 percent interest in Block 3 (Gardan), onshore Yemen, to French major Total for $44 million. As part of the deal, Total will assume operatorship of the block.

Oil Search disclosed that based on the current book value, an after tax profit from the sale will be included in its 2012 full year results.

Commenting on the deal, Oil Search's Managing Director Peter Botten said, "The completion of the sale of Oil Search’s interest in Block 3, Yemen is in line with our strategy to optimize our international acreage portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on licenses with material upside. Drilling is currently underway on a large prospect in Kurdistan, with encouraging preliminary indications, and a high potential well in Tunisia is due to commence drilling in early 2013."

With the sale of its Block 3 interest, Oil Search's remaining asset in Yemen is its 34 percent interest and operatorship of Block 7 (Al Barqa), also onshore Yemen, which contains the Al Meashar oil field discovered in 2010.

"The company is planning to acquire a 2D seismic program over prospective areas in [Block 7], subject to a stable and safe operating environment," Oil Search said in its disclosure.

Block 7 has been in force majeure since mid-2011 due to the "Arab Spring" uprising. Oil Search's most recent well drilled on the block, Al Meashar-1, was in March 2010. The well – at that time – flowed oil, gas and drilling fluids at an unstable rate of 200 barrels of oil per day and 100 barrels of drilling fluid per day.