Leviathan bidders close in on binding offers

摘要

GOLAR LNG and Exmar are set to submit binding proposals this quarter to Noble Energy for the provision of a floating liquefied natural gas vessel that could be deployed on the Leviathan gas field off Israel.However, progress on the mooted project could be delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and oil price-related impacts as well as LNG markets and the financing capacities of the project partners.Leviathan came on stream early this year as a long-distance subsea tie-back to a fixed platform in shallow waters, with gas sent mainly to buyers in Israel.This initial $3.5 billion development is known as Phase 1A, while the FLNG proposal is one of a number of options US independent Noble and its partners are considering for Phase 1B and beyond to exploit more of Leviathan's resources.Asset partner Delek Drilling said in its annual report - published this week - that bids from the two FLNG suppliers "are planned to be received during the first half of 2020."