Eni-Total gas drilling in Cyprus will begin this month

The Minister of Energy of Cyprus, Natasa Pilides, has announced, that the next drilling of the joint venture Eni-Total in the exclusive economic zone of the island will probably take place this month, as soon as the drilling platform finishes its work in Egypt. Pilides has also said that the joint venture Eni-Total will probably proceed with a second perforation in 2022. Furthermore, Pilides hopes that Cyprus will start exporting gas from the Aphrodite field in 2026. Aphrodite, Cyprus’ first natural gas field, is estimated to contain a gross reserve of between 3.6 and 6 trillion cubic feet (tcf). The explorations carried out by Eni in block 6 of the Cypriot EEZ revealed the extension of a carbonate activity similar to that of Zhor, while an exploration carried out by Exxon/Qatar Energy in the Glaucus field in block 10 revealed an estimated gas field of 5 to 8 cf.