Israeli authorities have asked for more information before declaring the Dolphin natural gas discovery a commercial discovery.
The declaration of the field as a discovery by the authorities will pave the way for it to be developed as part of the Leviathan project, according to Israeli firm Delek Energy.
Dolphin is in License 351 / Hanna. Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner at the Ministry for National Infrastructures, Energy and Water has asked for more data and estimates and detail around the conceptual development plan for the Dolphin reservoir and the planned timetable for the work.
A decision is due to be made by 15 March, 2016, or within 14 days following signature of a contract for the export of natural gas from the Leviathan field to the National Electric Power Co. of Jordan. A letter of intent outlining the latter was signed with operator Noble Energy earlier this year.
On announcing Dolphin as a discovery, the partners in the Hannah license had said they intend to integrate the development plan of Dolphin with the development plan for Leviathan, about 30km northwest of Dolphin.
The partners in the Leviathan project are Noble Energy, the operator, with 39.660%, Avner Oil Exploration (22.670%), Delek Drilling (22.670%), and Ratio Oil Exploration (15%).