Chevron Mediterranean, a subsidiary of US energy major Chevron, has awarded Hanwha Ocean a contract for the fabrication of modules for the Leviathan Expansion Project offshore Israel.
The contract marks a significant milestone in the ongoing expansion of one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s largest natural gas developments.
The Leviathan platform, located around 10 km off the coast of Dor, Israel, has been producing gas since 2019.
The latest expansion aims to boost its output capacity to approximately 21 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas per year, helping meet rising demand in local and regional markets.
Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering), has been contributing to the Leviathan Expansion Project since the third quarter of 2024, providing constructability assessments and project execution input.
The new contract entrusts the South Korean shipbuilder with the fabrication of additional topside modules designed to enhance the existing platform’s processing capabilities and efficiency.
Philippe Levy, President of Hanwha Ocean’s Energy Plant Unit, confirmed the contract in a statement shared on LinkedIn, expressing the company’s commitment to excellence in project delivery.
“We are honoured to be awarded the Leviathan Expansion Project Module Fabrication and will remain fully committed to its safe, successful execution, reinforcing our long-term partnership with Chevron,” Levy said.
In January, Chevron Mediterranean and its partners in the Leviathan reservoir made a final investment decision (FID) to proceed with the expansion.
The project scope includes drilling three new production wells, adding subsea infrastructure, and upgrading gas treatment systems on the platform.
The expanded capacity is expected to come online before the end of this decade, significantly strengthening Israel’s position as a natural gas exporter to neighbouring regions.
The Leviathan consortium comprises Chevron Mediterranean as the operator with a 39.66 per cent interest, NewMed Energy with a 45.34 per cent stake, and Ratio Energies holding 15 per cent.
Together, the partners aim to ensure a stable long-term gas supply for domestic consumption and export, including potential deliveries to Egypt, Jordan, and other Mediterranean markets.
Beyond Leviathan, Chevron continues to expand its portfolio across the Eastern Mediterranean. The company also operates the Tamar field offshore Israel and participates in developing the Aphrodite gas field off the coast of Cyprus.
Its regional growth strategy received another boost last month when Chevron and Greece’s HELLENiQ ENERGY signed lease agreements with the Hellenic Republic for exploration rights in four offshore blocks.
The agreements, executed through Chevron’s Dutch subsidiaries, cover two blocks south of Crete and two in the Peloponnese region.
These ventures reinforce Chevron’s commitment to supporting energy security and economic growth across the wider Mediterranean basin.
For Hanwha Ocean, the Leviathan contract adds to a growing portfolio of offshore energy projects, underlining its expanding role in global LNG and natural gas infrastructure development.
The company’s involvement in the Leviathan Expansion Project demonstrates the increasing collaboration between international engineering firms and regional operators aiming to deliver sustainable energy solutions in the decades ahead.
