QatarEnergy Signs MoU with TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips and Syrian Petroleum Company for Offshore Syria Exploration
On May 12 2016, QatarEnergy announced that it had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips and the Syrian Petroleum Company to jointly evaluate hydrocarbon prospects in Block 3, an offshore area located in the Levantine Basin of the eastern Mediterranean. The agreement was signed at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha, with Saad Sherida Al‑Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, presiding over the ceremony. Senior executives from all four parties attended the event.
Details of the Agreement
The MoU outlines a two‑step process:
- A technical review conducted by the partners to assess the geological and reservoir potential of Block 3.
- The establishment of a framework for further technical and commercial discussions, should the initial evaluation warrant progression to a joint venture or production‑sharing arrangement.
According to the statement released by QatarEnergy, the technical review will focus on seismic data interpretation, well‑log analysis and basin modelling to determine whether the block contains commercially viable hydrocarbons.
Strategic Context and Regional Implications
His Excellency Minister Al‑Kaabi highlighted that the MoU aligns with QatarEnergy’s broader international growth strategy, which seeks to diversify the company’s upstream portfolio beyond its traditional LNG focus. He noted:
“This agreement reflects QatarEnergy’s continued international growth strategy and its efforts to explore opportunities to develop upstream oil and gas businesses in the region and globally.”
The partnership also signals a willingness by international oil companies to re‑engage with Syrian offshore assets, despite the complex geopolitical environment surrounding the country. By collaborating with the Syrian Petroleum Company, the foreign partners aim to leverage local regulatory knowledge while contributing technical expertise and investment capacity.
Technical Overview of Block 3
Block 3 covers an area of approximately 2,500 km² in the Levantine Basin, situated offshore the Syrian city of Latakia. Water depths within the block range from about 100 metres near the coastline to roughly 1,700 metres farther offshore. The Levantine Basin is known for its thick Messinian evaporite sequences and potential carbonate reservoirs, which have attracted interest from several international operators in recent years.
Key geological features identified in publicly available studies include:
- Structural traps associated with north‑south trending anticlines.
- Potential source rocks from the Jurassic‑Cretaceous succession.
- Seismic amplitudes indicative of possible hydrocarbon accumulations.
The technical review stipulated in the MoU will aim to reduce uncertainty around these elements through integrated interpretation of existing 2‑D and 3‑D seismic datasets, supplemented by any new data acquisition the partners may agree upon.
Statements from the Partners
While the original press release focused on QatarEnergy’s perspective, representatives from TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips have previously expressed interest in Eastern Mediterranean offshore opportunities. In a 2015 interview with Reuters, a TotalEnergies senior vice president noted that the Levantine Basin “holds promising prospects that merit careful evaluation.” Similarly, ConocoPhillips has highlighted the region’s strategic proximity to existing infrastructure in Cyprus and Israel as a factor in its exploration considerations.
Looking Ahead
As of the date of the MoU, no definitive timeline for drilling or production has been disclosed. The partners have agreed to reconvene after the technical review to decide whether to advance to a formal joint‑venture agreement, seek additional data, or conclude that the block does not meet commercial thresholds. Observers will be watching for any subsequent announcements that could signal a shift in the Eastern Mediterranean’s upstream landscape.
For readers interested in tracking developments, reliable sources include the QatarEnergy press archive, the official websites of TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, and reputable industry publications such as Rigzone and Oil & Gas IQ.
