Murphy Oil enters Eastern Mediterranean with offshore Israel exploration licenses

Murphy Oil has been awarded six offshore exploration licenses in Israel's Zone G, a frontier area southwest of the producing Leviathan gas field, where the company will operate a 50% stake alongside Ratio Energies.
Related To: 
Nov. 11, 2026
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Why this news matters:

  • Murphy Oil is expanding its exploration footprint into the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the world's most active natural gas provinces.

  • The licenses are located near the producing Leviathan Field, increasing industry interest in the area's remaining resource potential. 

  • The partnership with Ratio Energies gives Murphy an operated position in a new offshore growth region outside its traditional core areas.

Courtesy Microsoft Copilot AI-generated image
Illustration of deepwater offshore gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean

In the Eastern Mediterranean, growing exploration activity continues to target gas resources near established developments such as Israel's Leviathan Field. 

Project at a glance

  • Operator: Murphy Oil (50%)
  • Partner: Ratio Energies (50%)
  • Location: Zone G offshore Israel
  • Area: 1,700 sq km
  • Status: Exploration license awarded

Israel’s government has awarded Murphy Oil six exploration licenses in offshore Zone G in the Mediterranean Sea.

Zone G, covering a 1,700-sq-km area, is 25 km southwest of the deepwater Leviathan gas field development, operated by Chevron.

Murphy will have a 50% operated interest, with the remainder held by Israeli E&P company Ratio Energies LP.

The two parties will jointly evaluate the exploration potential, Murphy said.

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Courtesy Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
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About the Author

Jeremy Beckman
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Jeremy Beckman

Staff Writer / Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.

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