After a near decade of delays, Lebanon has finally completed its first-ever offshore exploration well. But the results were less than encouraging, as the Total-led consortium (Total 40%op, Eni 40%, Russia’s Novatek 20%) failed to encounter hydrocarbons in any significant volumes.

The Byblos-1 well was drilled to a total depth of 4,076ms by Vantage’s Tungsten Explorer drillship 21km offshore Beirut, targeting the ‘Tamar Sands’ which have proven prolific for nearby Cyprus (4.5tcf Aphrodite field) and Israel (22tcf Leviathan, 11tcf Tamar and 2.2tcf Karish – see map). (CONTINUED - 876 WORDS)