Texas Oil Firm Murphy Offshore to Explore for Gas Off Israel's Coast
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Murphy Offshore Oil from Texas and Israel's Ratio partnership have received six offshore gas exploration licenses in Block G after a three-year delay. Murphy will operate the project, marking its first in Israel. The Ministry of Energy also eased terms for its fifth tender, with applications due January 27, 2027. This follows the delayed conclusion of the fourth tender, which awarded only two of four blocks.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Murphy Offshore Oil and Ratio secured six offshore gas exploration licenses in Israel's Block G.
- Murphy Offshore Oil, a Texas firm, will operate the exploration project.
- The licenses were awarded after a three-year delay from the fourth tender.
- The Ministry of Energy eased terms for its fifth gas exploration tender.
- Applications for the fifth tender are due by January 27, 2027.
Texas-based Murphy Offshore Oil and Israeli energy partnership Ratio have secured six licenses for offshore gas exploration in Block G, following a three-year delay. The licenses were awarded in the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure's fourth tender. Ratio holds a 15% stake in the Leviathan field, while Murphy Offshore and Ratio will each own 50% of the new licenses, with Murphy acting as the operator. The companies will now begin preparing their work program and conducting geological surveys. The partnership has changed significantly since the tender was initially won. Italian company ENI, which originally held 75% and operator rights, exited the project last year. British firm Dana Petroleum, which held 15%, has also withdrawn, though it retains the option to re-enter later. Murphy Offshore, headquartered in Houston, Texas, has over 80 years of experience in oil and gas exploration and production, specializing in deepwater drilling. The Block G exploration will mark its first project in Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean. The companies have three years from the license issuance to conduct exploration, with an option to extend, meaning the clock starts now despite the tender concluding three years ago. The Ministry of Energy also announced relaxed conditions for its fifth gas exploration tender, set to close on January 27, 2027. Operator experience will now be assessed based on individual specialists rather than solely the company. The fourth tender, announced in 2022 by then-Minister of Energy Karin Elharrar, saw results published for only two of its four blocks. A second block was awarded in March 2025 to a consortium of SOCAR, BP, and NewMed Energy, which began seismic surveys in September.
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