Lebanon’s Energy Minister Nada Boustani announced last week that US firm Vantage Drilling will provide the drillship for Lebanon’s first exploratory drilling campaign set to kick off in December (MEES, 1 March). Vantage’s ‘Tungsten Explorer’, which was previously contracted by Eni to drill the Nour prospect in Egypt (MEES, 15 March), will target Lebanon’s Block 4 (Total 40%op, Eni 40%, Novatek 20%) offshore Lebanon whilst a second well will be drilled in Block 9 near the Israeli border in 2020. The Block 4 & 9 wells must be drilled to a minimum 4,400ms and 4,200ms depths respectively. Lebanon’s second bid round is also ongoing with the aim of closing in April next year (MEES, 5 April).