Lebanon Block 8 Offshore Exploration Agreement Signed

TotalEnergies, together with Eni and QatarEnergy, has signed an agreement with the government of Lebanon to enter the offshore Block 8 exploration permit, marking a continuation of upstream exploration activity in Lebanese waters.

Consortium structure and permit scope
Under the agreement, TotalEnergies acts as operator with a 35% interest, alongside Eni holding 35% and QatarEnergy 30%. Block 8 is located offshore Lebanon in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that has attracted exploration interest due to its geological continuity with proven gas provinces in neighboring areas.

The permit provides the consortium with exploration rights subject to a defined initial work program, agreed with Lebanese authorities, and governed by the country’s offshore petroleum framework.

Seismic-led exploration strategy
The initial exploration phase will focus on subsurface data acquisition rather than immediate drilling. The consortium plans to carry out a 3D seismic survey covering approximately 1,200 square kilometers. This dataset is intended to refine the geological and structural understanding of Block 8, reduce exploration uncertainty, and support future decisions on prospect maturation and potential drilling.

Three-dimensional seismic acquisition is a standard step in frontier and emerging basins, enabling improved imaging of reservoir structures, fault systems, and stratigraphic features compared with legacy 2D data.

Context within Lebanon’s offshore program
The decision to proceed with Block 8 follows the drilling of the Qana well in neighboring Block 9, which did not result in a commercial discovery. Despite that outcome, the consortium has confirmed its intention to continue exploration activities in Lebanon, signaling a longer-term approach to evaluating the country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential.

By shifting focus to Block 8 and prioritizing seismic evaluation, the partners are applying a data-driven strategy aligned with exploration risk management practices in complex offshore settings.

Implications for future exploration activity
Results from the planned 3D seismic campaign will determine whether Block 8 advances to subsequent exploration phases, including potential exploratory drilling. For Lebanon, the agreement maintains international operator engagement in its offshore sector and supports the gradual build-up of subsurface knowledge across licensed blocks.

For the consortium, Block 8 represents an opportunity to reassess exploration potential in the Eastern Mediterranean under updated geological models, while working in coordination with national authorities and within the existing regulatory framework.