BEIRUT: The second phase of the onshore oil survey has started in Lebanon, heartened by the encouraging results in first stage, an official with the company carrying out the work said Thursday.
“The extracted data in the first phase was promising and is subject of interest for the international oil companies. The company will hand over the final report of the first phase to the [Energy] Ministry this month,” said David Rowlands, vice president for the Middle East at Britain-based Spectrum.
Spectrum conducted an onshore survey in the Batroun region last year but no official statement on the finding has been released yet.
Rowlands was speaking at a symposium held Thurday at Le Royal Hotel to explain the second phase of the 2-D seismic onshore survey. The company gave a presentation covering the areas that would be surveyed in the second phase.
Energy and Water Minister Arthur Nazarian said that the second phase would cover the entire Lebanese coast.
“The second phase of the seismic survey of the entire coast will give us a picture about the prospects of hydrocarbon material on the Lebanese soil before starting the exploration on the ground,” the minister explained.
He said local authorities in these areas as well as the NGOs would cooperate with the company and the ministry to facilitate their work.
Spectrum said that it would compensate municipalities and property owners if any damages result from the operations.
Source: The Daily Star