Drilling rig Transocean Barents arrives in Block 9 offshore Lebanon

Drilling rig Transocean Barents arrives in Block 9 offshore Lebanon

The drilling rig Transocean Barents arrived Wednesday morning in Block 9 offshore Lebanon, caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamiyah said.

French firm TotalEnergies, in agreement with its partners Eni and QatarEnergy, had signed a contract to begin drilling and exploring for gas in late August in waters off crisis-hit Lebanon.

Caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad said that TotalEnergies estimates the presence of a huge gas field in Block 9. "The results of the excavation will be seen within two to three months" he added.

In October, Lebanon and Israel signed a landmark border agreement that opens up lucrative offshore gas fields for the eastern Mediterranean neighbors.

Beirut divided its exclusive economic zone at sea into 10 blocks, and Block 9 was part of the area disputed with Israel.

Block 9 contains the so-called Qana field or Sidon reservoir.

There are still no proven gas reserves in the field that straddles the maritime border, but a 2012 seismic study by the British firm Spectrum estimated recoverable gas reserves in Lebanon at 25.4 trillion cubic feet.

Lebanese officials have announced higher estimates.

Many politicians in Lebanon have pinned hopes of a way out of crisis on gas exploration, but analysts have said Beirut, which is in deep