27 September 12 16:13–Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) will lease the deepwater Atwood Advantage rig for 36 months from Atwood Oceanics Inc. (NYSE: ATW). The rig’s first mission will apparently be at Leviathan, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Noble Energy said, “The drillship Atwood Advantage is currently under construction by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. in South Korea. Delivery is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2013 when the rate of $584,000 per day will be initiated. The dual BOP stacks, enhanced offline capabilities, 12,000 feet water depth/40,000 feet drill depth ratings and the increased mobility will add flexibility to Noble Energy’s global exploration program. The rig’s advanced capabilities are sufficient to reach the deep oil target in the Eastern Mediterranean, which will be the first exploration prospect drilled.”

Leviathan’s partners – Noble Energy, Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG), and Ratio Oil Exploration (1992) LP (TASE:RATI.L) – believe that there is a strong probability of finding 600 million barrels of oil and an additional four trillion cubic meters (TCF) of natural gas in Leviathan’s deep strata. There are two almost identical prospects in these strata, one with an estimated 285 million barrels of oil and 2 TCF of gas, and the second with an estimated 280 million barrels of oil and 2 TCF of gas…Read More>>

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