03 What has Lebanon done so far?
Timeline for Oil and Gas in Lebanon and the region
1938
Iraq Petroleum Company Explores for Oil in Lebanon
The Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) receives a permit to conduct geological fieldwork – work is suspended due to war.
1947-48
Iraq Petroleum Company Explores for Oil in Lebanon
IPC drills an exploratory well near Jabal Tarbol in the Beqaa Valley to the depth of 1,950.72 meters; the results were inconclusive.
1953-54
Lebanese Petroleum Company Explores for Oil
Compagnie libanaise des pétroles (Lebanese Petroleum Company) drills exploratory well in Yamour; another well is drill near Nahr Ibrahim; inconclusive results.
1959-60
Lebanese Petroleum Company Explores for Oil
Lebanese Petroleum Company drills exploratory wells in al Qa, Adloun, and another in Yamour.
1963
Lebanese Petroleum Company Explores for Oil
Lebanese Petroleum Company drills exploratory well in Tall Dhnoub in the western Bekaa Valley.
1999
Lebanon Receives Plan for Exploration
UK ATenergy designs and proposes plan for exploration, no action taken by Lebanese government.
April 2019
Lebanon announces that drilling block 4 will start in December 2019

On April 2, 2019 the Chairman of the Lebanese Petroleum Authority- Walid Nasr-  announced that Lebanon will be ready by the end of 2019 to start the exploratory drilling in block 4 followed by block 9 in 2020.

Feb 2020
Arrival of Tungsten Explorer drill ship to the first drilling location in block 4 in the Lebanese offshore

On February 25th, 2020 Tungsten Explorer drillship arrived at the location of the first exploration well in block 4 of the Lebanese waters where two logistical support vessels were waiting for it at the drilling point to provide the necessary equipment

Feb 2020
Beginning of the exploration phase in the first well in block 4

On February 29th, 2020 Lebanon launched its first exploratory drill in block 4 with the consortium Total, ENI and Novatek. 

April 2020
The Minister of Energy and Water announces that the results of the first offshore exploration resulted in a dry well

On April 27th, 2020 Minister of Energy and Water Raymond Ghajar announced that Lebanon’s first foray into offshore exploration in block 4 has found a dry well

For more information, click here

February 2021
Lebanon discloses the beneficial ownership at the sub contractual level

In February 2021, The LPA published a list of all companies sub contracted to execute the drilling of the exploratory well in Block4.  The list also includes the names of the companies’ ultimate beneficial owners. 

Check it out here
 

 

BASICS about Oil and Gas in Lebanon