Noble Energy Sanctions Tamar Project Offshore Israel

HOUSTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) announced today that it has sanctioned the Tamar natural gas project offshore Israel. Discovered in 2009, Tamar is operated by Noble Energy and has total recoverable resources estimated at 8.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Initial development of Tamar will include five subsea wells capable of flowing 200 to 250 million cubic feet per day (Mmcf/d) of natural gas each. Production will be gathered at the field and delivered via two 16-inch flowlines to a new platform, which will be constructed adjacent to the existing Mari-B structure. The Tamar platform will tie into the existing 30-inch pipeline that delivers natural gas to the Ashdod onshore receiving terminal, with an initial processing capacity up to 1.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The project design and connectivity to Mari-B will also provide for gas injection and withdrawal in the Mari-B reservoir. In addition, the development will allow for significant expansion as the market for natural gas grows.

Charles D. Davidson, Noble Energy's Chairman and CEO, said, "Noble Energy continues to make outstanding progress on our lineup of major projects. We now have key developments underway in each of our core areas and significant growth is rapidly approaching. Tamar represents a critically important project for our Company, our partners, and the State of Israel. Ensuring that we are able to meet the near and longer-term needs of Israel's growing gas market will support the State's continued commitment to natural gas as the energy source of the future."

Gross capital cost for Tamar is estimated at $3.0 billion ($1.1 billion net to Noble Energy). The majority of key project components have been awarded and development drilling is scheduled to commence by early 2011. Project installation is expected to be complete and commissioning initiated in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Noble Energy operates Tamar, offshore Israel in the Matan license, with a 36 percent working interest. Other interest owners are Isramco Negev 2 with 28.75 percent, Delek Drilling with 15.625 percent, Avner Oil Exploration with 15.625 percent and Dor Gas Exploration with the remaining four percent.

The Company is also the operator of Mari-B with a 47.059 percent working interest. Delek Drilling has a 25.5 percent interest, Avner Oil Exploration holds 23 percent and Delek Investment has 4.441 percent.  

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production. The Company operates primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Mid-Continent, and deepwater Gulf of Mexico areas in the United States, with significant international operations offshore Israel and West Africa. Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL. Visit Noble Energy online at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release includes projections and other "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such projections and statements reflect Noble Energy's current views about future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other action, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are detailed in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Noble Energy assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained herein except as required by law.

Cautionary Note to Investors -- The Securities and Exchange Commission prohibits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, from disclosing estimates of oil or gas resources other than "reserves," as that term is defined by the SEC. We use certain terms in this news release, such as "recoverable resources," which describe quantities of oil and gas that may not meet the SEC's definitions of proved, probable and possible reserves, and which the SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being recovered by us. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our Forms 10-K and 10-Q, File No. 1-07964, available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com. These forms can also be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

This news release may also contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating the Company's overall financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are broadly used to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our Forms 10-K and 10-Q, File No. 1-07964, available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com. These forms can also be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.  

For additional information – website www.nobleenergyinc.com

SOURCE Noble Energy, Inc.