Israeli natural gas: obstacles and opportunities

A Final Investment Decision has not yet been taken on Israel s 22 tcf offshore deepwater Leviathan gas field. The domestic market is too small to absorb Leviathan's volumes alone and a full scale development will rely on export agreements. Egypt Jordan and Turkey are potential markets but each comes with unique and different challenges. If domestic challenges can be ironed out before larger export Gas Sales Agreements (GSAs) are finalised a phased development is likely. An initial smaller phase of Leviathan targeting the Jordanian and Israeli markets would be followed by a second expanded phase if larger export GSAs are signed.