Republic of Lebanon

Located on the eastern coast of the

Mediterranean
•
Sea
Located on the eastern coast of the
Mediterranean Sea

Total Area: 10,452 sq. km

•
•
Total Area: 10,452 sq. km
Population: over 4 million inhabitants
• Capital: Beirut

Population: over 4 million

• Shoreline extends 210 kilometers from north
to south

inhabitants
• Bordered
– North and East by Syria
– South by Occupied Territories/
Palestine
Capital: Beirut – West by the Mediterranean Sea

Shoreline extends 210 kilometers

from north to south
Bordered
North and East by Syria
South by Occupied Territories/
Palestine
West by the Mediterranean Sea
Image retrieved from http://www.lebanon-exploration.com/
Petroleum Exploration 1930-2012
Onshore
1930s: Dubertret extensively
described the geology of
Lebanon
1940s: Onshore Exploration
started
1975: exploration Licenses
canceled by government
Offshore
1990s: Geological seismic
surveys were conducted
strongly suggesting the
presence of oil and gas
deposit.
2012: Expected first licensing
round for offshore oil and
gas exploration
 Onshore Exploration
1947 – 1963: Seven exploratory wells have been drilled

1947 Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) drilled a well in Terbol (depth: 3065 m)

1953 Well in Yuhmor (depth: 2672 m)

1960 Well in Al-Qaa (depth: 2557 m), Adloun (depth: 2150 m) & Yuhmor

1963 Well drilled in Tell-Znoub (depth: 1421 m) & Sohmor (Depth:1423 m)

1967 Aabrine (depth: 620 m)

1975 Exploration Licenses cancelled by the government

 Refineries : Tripoli & Zahrani
Tripoli Refinery
Tripoli Oil Installations (TOI) Refinery operations stopped
First refining activity

First pipeline built 33 storage tanks destroyed

Crude oil transport from Iraq to
Lebanon through the Iraq

{
Petroleum Company (IPC) 1934 1940 1983-1985 1989

Present: storage purposes only

Zahrani Refinery Refinery activities stopped

Mediterranean Refining Company
First refining activity The Government took
Crude oil transport from Saudi
over the facilities
Arabia to Zahrani through Tapeline
Company
Caltex & Mobile-agreement
with Lebanese Government Refinery damaged and closed

Present: storage area for petroleum

products
1945 1952 1975 1982 1986 1989
 Offshore Exploration
1993 GecoPrakla Performs a 2-D seismic survey to gather data Offshore Tripoli

2000 Spectrum performs a 2-D seismic survey to gather data of the Lebanese offshore

2006- PGS performs 2-D and 3-D seismic survey data of the Lebanese offshore

2012- Spectrum performs a 3-D seismic survey to gather data of the Lebanese offshore

2010 Offshore Petroleum Resources Law

Delineation of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone of Lebanon

2011 sent to the United Nations

2012 Lebanon's Cabinet Approves Petroleum Administration Decrees

2012? Expected first licensing round for offshore gas exploration

 ‫‪Public Policy‬‬

‫قانون الموارد البترولية في المياه البحرية‬

‫قانون رقم ‪ - 132‬صادر في ‪24/8/2010‬‬
‫تم نشره في الجريدة الرسمية العدد ‪ - 41‬الصادرة بتاريخ ‪ 2‬أيلول ‪2010‬‬

‫األحكام العامة للتعاقد مع الشركات من أجل البحث والتنقيب عن النفط والغاز‬

‫مرسوم رقم ‪ - 5039‬صادر في ‪9/4/1994‬‬

‫مرسوم هيئة إدارة قطاع البترول‪ 64 :‬مادة تحدد المهام والمسؤوليات‬

‫جريدة السفير‪ 30 ,‬آذار ‪2012‬‬
 Governance Issues
Lebanese policy makers should examine lessons from the success and
failure of other countries
Policy threats
• Corruption
• Poor implementation
• Unequal distribution of oil
revenues
• Volatility of oil prices
• Non-diversification of the
economy
• Environmental risk
Corruption prevention
• Public Extraction contracts
• Monitor and disclose
extraction figures
• Ratify international standards
or treaties
• Implement anti-bribery codes
(implementation of the regulations in
the home countries of oil company
operating in Lebanon)
 Maritime Border Disputes

Levant Basin located in the East

Mediterranean region involve
different countries including

• Gaza,
• Occupied Territories/Israel,
• Lebanon,
• Egypt,
• Cyprus,
• Syria, and
• Turkey

Maritime boundary disputes will

prevent Lebanon from exploring
part of its oil and gas resources
Lebanese Israeli Disputes
Both countries are at war
• No Direct negotiation
• No joint development agreement

Israel has not signed the UN Law of

the Sea
• Lebanon can not force Israel to
resolve maritime dispute through
an international tribunal

Remaining Option: Third Party mediation e.g. The United Nations

Lebanon developed it own

‘Delineation of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone of Lebanon’
and sent it to The United Nations on October 2011
 Maritime Legal Frameworks
Cyprus

Feb. 2011 - Ratified the delimitation of the EEZ with Israel by Law
Dec. 2010 - Delimitation agreement of the EEZ with Israel
Jan. 2007 - Delimitation agreement of the EEZ with Lebanon
Mar. 2003 - Ratified the delimitation of the EEZ with Arab Republic of Egypt by Law
Feb. 2003 - Delimitation agreement of the EEZ with Arab Republic of Egypt

Lebanon

Oct. 2011
Delineation of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone of Lebanon
 Exploration and Licensing
Lebanon Exploration:
Ministry of Energy and Water - Lebanon
Lebanon 1st License Round
• Legal and Fiscal Documents:
– Offshore Petroleum Law
• Data: Data Room
– Technical data
• Flyer: Description and Letter of
invitation for exploration companies
Lebanon International Petroleum
Exploration Forum (LIPE)
• LIPE 2012 (3/4/5 July 2012)
For details, check
brochure and flyer
• LIPE 2011 (29/30 July 2011)
– Companies attending the Forum
– Post show summary for a briefing
– Booklet for details
– Presentations available for
download
 Events 2011-2012

• Lebanon Oil, Gas & Energy Conference 2012: Organized by Arabcom Group. An
annual meeting place for International and regional oil, gas, and energy industry
• Role of natural gas in Lebanon’s future energy mix: The Third International
Workshop organized by Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources
at the American University of Beirut. (April 2012)
• Geopolitics of oil and gas in Lebanon in the Near East a conference held at the
Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK). (March 2011)

• Lebanon International Petroleum Exploration Forum (LIPE)

• LIPE 2012 (3/4/5 July 2012)
For details, check brochure and flyer

• LIPE 2011 (29/30 July 2011)

Read the Post show summary for a briefing, check the booklet for details, and click on
presentations to download documents

– 2011 ‫طاقة لبنان النفطية مؤتمر في الجامعة االمريكية للعلوم و التكنولوجيا حول الطاقة النفطية في لبنان‬
“Oil and Gas in Lebanon” Guide

• This PPT is just a brief presentation on Lebanese petroleum exploration

and related issues.

• Check the “Oil and Gas in Lebanon” guide* for more on exploration
history, prospective offshore exploration, geo-petroleum issues, petroleum
law, licensing, maritime laws and disputes, and other issues.

* Use the tabs at the top of the guide to navigate through the different pages of this guide.
 References

“Lebanon 1st Licensing Round.” Lebanon International Petroleum Exploration Forum. Ministry of
Water and Energy. 2012.

Lebanon Exploration. Lebanon International Petroleum Exploration Forum. Ministry of Water and
Energy. 2011.

Sassine, Georges P. “Resolving Lebanon’s Maritime Border Disputes.” A New Vision for Lebanon.
George Sassine. 12 Dec. 2011.

Sulayman, Walid F. “Demand and Supply Prospects for Major Petroleum Products in Lebanon.” Master
Thesis. American University of Beirut. 1972.

Wählisch, Martin. “Israel-Lebanon Offshore Oil & Gas Dispute – Rules of International Maritime Law.”
ASIL Insights 15.31 2011: n. pages

2012 ‫ نيسان‬21 ‫هل يكسب لبنان حقوله؟ السفير‬.‫ الصراع على النفط والغاز‬.‫ عصام‬,‫خليفة‬
Thank You