The Navtex issue[/B] for the extension of seismic surveys in order to identify hydrocarbon deposits south of Crete was issued by the Navy.
The Navtex concerns the ship Sanco Swift which is towing a 12 km cable.
See the Navtex
See the maps of the new area and the old area
[/P]As stated in the Navtex, it concerns "equipment deployment and seismic surveys" to be carried out by the ship Sanco Swift supported by the ship Alexander 3.
The Navtex relates to ExxonMobil's surveys in the area and now provides for their extension and is valid "until further notice".
The two Navtexes cover the course of the Norwegian company PGS's Sanco Swift on the two plots owned by the ExxonMobil-Helleniq Energy consortium with officials making no secret of their expectation of a deposit that will be extremely important, but also of its fairly rapid exploitation, if suitable, along the lines of other large deposits in our region. . We are talking about economies of scale in the billions. The numbers are very large and have elements of transformation of the economy, if we think about it, because the targets and potential production exceed national needs", explains to protothema.gr Aris Stefatos, managing director of the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company that "runs" the project of exploitation of the deposits.
In practice, according to the analyses, this means that, if fully exploited, the field in the south-west of the country could produce results similar to Zor in Egypt or Leviathan in Israel, mutatis mutandis. At the same time, relevant sources say that for the first time in the country, exploration is underway both in the southwest and northwest of the country, at the point of contact with the EEZ we have drawn with Italy, based on the principles of international law and the international law of the sea. Given the prospect of replacing fossil fuels in the energy mix in the coming years, in theory the deposit in question could meet the needs of the Greek market and also constitute an exportable product.
Next steps
After the collection and processing of seismic data in combination with the existing geological models and other available scientific data, a selection and prioritization of targets for exploratory drilling, preparation of an environmental impact study and a tender process for exploratory drilling will follow.
According to government sources, the start of these explorations marks another important milestone in the government's strategy for the exploitation of Greece's natural gas resources, the effort for an energy transition to a more sustainable energy mix and the strengthening of its own and Europe's energy security.
Hydrocarbon exploration, according to government officials, will be carried out in accordance with the strictest international standards for environmental protection. This includes, among others: Use of the "soft-start" protocol. Use of the "soft launch" method. Extension of the radius of the minimum safety zone around the research vessel. 1 km exclusion zone around Natura sites and fish farms. Presence of an independent observer from the Hellenic National Research Council on board the research vessel.
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