Canada’s Bontan moves into Israel

TORONTO, Nov. 24 (UPI) — Canada-based Bontan Corp. Inc. announced the indirect acquisition of exploration and drilling licenses in the Levantine Basin off the coast of Israel.

Bontan said the two drilling licenses and one exploration permit cover a total area of more than 1,000 square miles in the Israeli waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Israeli Petroleum Co. holds the 75 percent equity interest in the project area for Bontan.

Wells associated with the Levantine Basin hold an estimated 6.8 trillion cubic feet of probably gas reserves, which Bontan said is the second largest discovery in the world made in nearly two years.

“With the 6.8 trillion cubic feet discoveries north of the project assets, the possibility of significant hydrocarbon deposits on our project area exists,” said Kam Shah, chief executive officer of Bontan

The company said it was in the process of obtaining the necessary permits for further analysis of the Levantine Basin.

Special Report: Zion – The Movie

Special Report: Zion – The Movie

I traveled to Israel last week to work with Charter Films Limited, a UK film company. We (they) were doing preliminary shooting for a film about Zion Oil’s search for oil in Israel. Tom Boulting, Charter’s CEO met Richard Rinberg, Zion’s CEO on a flight to London a few months back and Richard shared the Zion Oil story with Tom. Tom was fascinated. As a filmmaker, Tom saw great possibilities for a documentary on Zion Oil; but after spending a few days with Richard and Zion Founder John Brown at Zion’s drilling sites in Israel he realized that a sixty minute documentary could only tell half the story. Tom started thinking ‘movie’.

As the ‘oil in Israel’ story teller up to this point, I was invited to spend last week with Tom and his cameraman, Jim, ‘on site’ while they filmed preliminary footage for both the documentary and a possible feature length film. I was able to share the ‘back-story’ with Tom and Jim, both on and off camera. They even christened me into the ‘film crew’ on location by letting me hold the boom mike during interviews and taught me some movie making lingo. It was a great experience personally, but more exciting was the realization that the world will soon witness the Zion Oil story through documentary on the small screen (TV) and (one day) on the big screen as a feature length movie.

There’s a lot of work to be done now by Charter Films, editing footage and preparing a short ‘promo’ piece to share with potential film partners. Speaking of ‘promo’ pieces, Charter Films is planning to join us at the 2010 National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention next February in Nashville to debut a sneak peek of “Zion – The Movie”.

Next week we’ll have http://zionthemovie.com online. By the time you’re about done with that left-over turkey, you’ll be able to visit the new website for great pictures, meet the director and stay up to date on the making of “Zion – The Movie”. Of course we’ll always give you the latest news here at http://oilinisrael.net.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Since the holidays are quickly approaching I thought I’d include a short article on Christmas trees. Normally, you’d think Christmas trees and Israel wouldn’t go together. But there’s a Christmas tree already up at Zion Oil’s Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 site. It’s not green (it’s kind of a dirty gray) and it doesn’t have needles, but there are a good many valves.

The Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 Christmas tree is installed on the wellhead. I’ll leave it to Wikipedia to explain why it’s there and what it does.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree_(oil_well)

Note that a tree and wellhead are separate pieces of equipment not to be mistaken as the same piece. For clarity, a wellhead must be present in order to utilize a Christmas Tree and a wellhead is used WITHOUT a Christmas Tree during drilling operations, and also for riser tie-back situations which would then have a tree included at riser top. Producing surface wells that require pumps (pump jacks, nodding donkeys, etc.) frequently do not utilize any tree due to NO pressure containment requirement.

Tree complexity has increased over the last few decades. They are frequently manufactured from blocks of steel containing multiple valves rather than made from multiple flanged valves.

The primary function of a tree is to control the flow into or out of the well, usually oil or gas. A tree often provides numerous additional functions including chemical injection points, well intervention means, pressure relief means (eg annulus vent), tree and well monitoring points (such as pressure, temperature, corrosion, erosion, sand detection, flow rate, flow composition, valve and choke position feedback, connection points for devices such as down hole pressure and temperature transducer (DHPT), etc.

When the operator, well, and facilities are ready to produce and receive oil or gas, valves are opened and the release of the formation fluids is allowed to flow into and through a pipeline. The pipeline then leads to a processing facility, storage depot and or other pipeline eventually leading to a refinery or distribution center (for gas).

A tree may also be used to control the injection of gas or water injection application on a producing or non-producing well in order to sustain economic “production” volumes of oil from other well(s) in the area (field).

On producing wells, injection of chemicals or alcohols or oil distillates to prevent and or solve production problems (such as blockages) may be used.

A typical sophisticated surface tree will have at least four or five valves, normally arranged in a crucifix type pattern (hence the endurance of the term “Christmas tree”). The two lower valves are called the master valves (upper and lower respectively) because they lie in the flow path, which well fluids must take to get to surface. The lower master valve will normally be manually operated, while the upper master valve is often hydraulically actuated, allowing it to be a means of well control while an actuated wing valve is normally the primary well remotely (from control room or control panel) controlled valve. Hydraulic tree wing valves are usually built to be fail safe closed, meaning they require active hydraulic pressure to stay open.

If you’re lucky enough to visit Zion’s well site one day, you’ll know why that complicated combination of valves and gauges is there and what it’s called – a Christmas tree!

Delek Energy seeks bigger stake in Avner Oil partnership

Yitzhak Tshuva-controlled Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) subsidiary Delek Energy Systems Ltd. (TASE: DEOL) today published a shelf prospectus for an offering through an exchange offer to purchase of 517,300 Delek Energy shares for 347 million shares in Avner Oil and Gas LP (TASE: AVNR.L). Delek Energy will offer one share for each 670.65 partnership units in Avner.

The offer to purchase does not apply to Delek Energy’s sister company, Delek Investments and Properties Ltd., and subsidiary, Avner Oil Exploration Ltd., which currently own 47.27% of Avner altogether. Delek Energy is seeking to acquire 10.4% of Avner. Implementation of the offer to purchase depends on a favorable response by owners of 262.7 million partnership units in Avner, amounting to 75.73% of the units in the offer to purchase. Delek Energy has the right to make new offers to purchase in the future, regardless of the outcome of the current offer, at the same or different terms, at its sole discretion.

In the event of a full response to the offer to purchase, Delek Energy will increase its stake in Avner from its current 38.12% to 48.5%. If the offer is successful, it will boost Delek Energy’s chances of inclusion in the Tel Aviv 100 Index at the upcoming review. The company’s low liquidity currently keeps it out of the index.

Delek Energy’s share rose 14% by mid-afternoon today to NIS 816.10, giving a market cap of NIS 3.3 billion. Avner’s share rose 3.8% to NIS 1.20, giving a market cap of NIS 3.92 billion.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on November 8, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

Zion Oil Founder John Brown on Jewish Voice TV

Zion Oil Founder & Chairman John Brown will appear on the Jewish Voice television show with host Jonathan Bernis during the week of November 9. The Jewish Voice airs on networks and independent television stations in the United States and internationally.

Below is a full listing of times and networks/stations:

Jewish Voice with JB  Weekly Schedule
Market		800#	TV Station	Affiliate	Time Period
National	MON	800-509-9588	TCC-Church Chan		Mon 7:30am (PT)
Tampa, FL	MON	800-514-4588	WCLF-TV 22	Ind	Mon 11:30am (EST)
Dallas	MON	800-514-4588	KTAQ – TV 47	Ind	Mon 1:00pm (CST)
Orlando, FL	MON	800-514-4588	WACX – TV 9	Ind	Mon 7:30pm (EST)
National	TUES	800-588-9722	Angel One		Tue 8:30am (EST)
Bellingham, WA/Vanouver BC	TUES	800-514-4588	KVOS-12	Ind	Tues 9:30am (PST)
National	TUES	800-305-7140	Daystar		Tue 10:00am (CST)
El Paso, TX	TUES	800-514-4588	KSCE-TV 38	Ind	Tue 7:30pm (CST)
Tampa, FL	TUES	800-514-4588	WCLF-TV 22	Ind	Tue 11:30pm (EST)
National	WED	800-509-9588	TCC-Church Chan		Wed 4:30am (PT)
Orlando, FL	WED	800-514-4588	WACX – TV 9	Ind	Wed 3p (EST)
National	WED	800-306-0162	WHT Network	LeSea	Wed 6:30 PM (EST)
Ft Myers FL	WED	800-514-4588	WRXY TV 49	CTN	Wed 10pm (EST)
National	WED	800-902-6346	NRB Network		Wed 11:00pm (EST)
National	THUR	800-509-9588	TCC-Church Chan		Thu 8:30a (EST)
National	THUR	800-588-9722	Angel One		Thu 8:30a (EST)
Phoenix, AZ	THUR	800-514-4588	KPAZ-TV 21	TBN	Thu 9:30am (AZ local time)
National	THUR	800-588-0249	Cornerstone		Thu 5:30 PM (EST)
National	FRI	800-306-0162	WHT		Fri 3:30a (EST)
National	FRI	800-902-6346	NRB Network		Fri 4:00a (EST)
Orlando, FL	FRI	800-514-4588	WACX – TV 9	Ind	Fri 11:00a (EST)
National	FRI	800-588-0249	Cornerstone		Fri 11:30a (EST)
Orlando, FL	FRI	800-514-4588	WTGL	Ind	Fri 12:30p
National	FRI	800-509-9588	TCC-Church Chan		Fri 4:00p (PST)
National	FRI	800-588-9722	Angel One		Fri 6:30p (EST)
National	SAT	800-902-6346	NRB Network		Sat 5:00 PM (EST)
National	SAT	800-588-0249	Cornerstone		Sat 7:30 PM (EST)
Orlando, FL	SUN	800-514-4588	WACX – TV 9	Ind	Sun 12:30am (EST)
Orlando, FL	SUN	800-514-4588	WTGL	Ind	Sun 7:00am (EST)
National	SUN	800-588-9588	Cornerstone		Sun 9:00am (EST)
National	SUN	800-588-9722	Angel One		Sun 10:00am (EST)
Philadelphia PA	SUN	800-514-4588	WFMZ	Ind	Sun 9:30 am (EST)
Orlando, FL	SUN	800-514-4588	WTGL	Ind	Sun 12:00pm (EST)
El Paso, TX	SUN	800-514-4588	KSCE-TV 38	Ind	Sun 5:00pm (CST)
National	SUN	800-306-0162	WHT		Sun 12:00p EST
Orlando, FL	SUN	800-514-4588	WTGL	Ind	Sun 7 pm (EST)
National	SUN	800-902-6346	NRB Network		Sun 7:00 PM (EST)
National	SUN	800-588-9722	Angel One		Sun 8:30pm (EST)
Cleveland, OH	SUN	800-514-4588	WGGN-TV 52	Ind	Sun 9:30pm (EST)
International		800-306-0161	Miracle (CJIL)		Tue 9:00pm (MST)
Canada					Thurs 5p
					Fri 5a (MST)
					Fri 6p (MST)
					Sun 2:30p (MST)
International		800-2200-2401	GOD TV  UK		Thurs 12p
UK		800-2200-2401	GOD TV  UK		Wed 12:30p
		800-2200-2401	GOD TV  UK		Sun 11:30a
International		800-305-7527	GOD TV  US		Wed 12:30p EST
International Outreach – Not on Media Reports:
CNL Russia
		Wednesday 10am
		Sunday 11:55am
Life TV  Russia		Tuesday 8pm
		Wednesday 12pm
		Wednesday 3am

Asher’s Shoes of Iron and Brass?

I just stumbled on something fascinating regarding the mention of Asher’s ‘shoes’ in Deuteronomy. 33:25, “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” (KJV). My father, Jim Spillman, as you may know, was the man who first publicly theorized that Jacob’s Blessing contained a promise of a massive oil discovery in Israel in his book, The Great Treasure Hunt. Part of his thesis included Deuteronomy 33:24 “And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.” That scripture was only a small part of the evidence linking Jacob’s Blessing to an Israeli oil discovery.

The passage directly following “let him dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy33:25, above) states that Asher’s “shoes shall be iron and brass”. The working components of oil rigs are constructed of a combination of iron and brass in order to prevent sparking, in order to prevent oil fires. Dad always believed that Asher’s ‘shoes’ being iron and brass referred to oil rigs being constructed of iron and brass components and thus, a further fulfillment of prophecy.

Dad studied the Bible in Hebrew and Greek but the English translation he preferred was the King James Version. Something that bothered me was that other English Bible versions translated “shoes” as “bars” (ESV) or “bolts of your gates” (NIV). So I searched out the Hebrew word all these versions were translating.

Here’s what I found: The Hebrew word translated ‘shoes’ in the KJV is ‘man’al’ – Strong’s literal meaning in English is “a bolt: – shoe” The definition didn’t sink in at first because I was a little bothered about something else I discovered – this was the only time in the Bible that the Hebrew word ‘man’al’ was used as ‘shoes’. Every other mention of ‘shoe’ or ‘shoes’ in the Bible was the Hebrew word ‘na’al’ which was the common term meaning a ‘shoe’ one would wear on his foot. So clearly, there was a difference between Asher’s ‘shoes’ in Deut. 33:25 and all the other ‘shoes’ mentioned in the Bible.

I found that ‘man’al’ (bolt/shoe) and ‘na’al’ (common term for shoe) had the same root, ‘nâ’al’ (different pronunciation than ‘na’al’) – meaning ‘to fasten up’. Both the Hebrew words for ‘bolt’ and ’shoe’ come from the same root, ‘to fasten up’, because both are ‘fastened’. Only the Deut. 33:25 word ‘man’al’ carries the double meaning of bolt and shoe!

So it looks like old Dad was righter than he thought. Asher’s ’shoes/bolts’ will be iron and brass!

A final note: When the Zion Oil crew is finished with the hole at Elijah #3, they will most likely install a heavy, cylindrical section of steel filled with concrete at the end of the casing string. This is to prevent the casing string from hanging up in the hole. The proper term for the heavy steel section at the end of the casing? The guide shoe.

“Thy shoes shall be of iron and brass …” Amazing!

“After snuffing, the wellhead must be ‘capped’ to stop the flow of fuel. During this time, the fuel and oxygen required to create another inferno is present in copious amounts. At this perilous stage, one small spark (perhaps from a steel or iron tool striking a stone) or other heat source might re-ignite the fuel. To prevent re-ignition, brass or bronze tools, which do not strike sparks, or paraffin coated tools are used during the capping process.” (From: “Fire at the Wellhead”)

Adira Energy Awarded Offshore License

(source: Scandinavian Oil & Gas Magazine)

AMG Oil says that the Israeli Petroleum Commissioner’s office has notified the Company that, during the most recent sitting of the Israeli Petroleum Board, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Adira Energy Corp., was awarded a second petroleum license in offshore Israel (the “Yitzhak License”).

Yitzhak License The Yitzhak License area is centered approximately 17 km off the Israeli coast and stretches from Netanya in the South to Hadera in the North (about 11 km). The Yitzhak License covers a total license area of 127,700 Dunam (approximately – 127.7 square kilometers or 31,555 acres). The Yitzhak License is directly to the North of, and contiguous to the company’s Gabriella License.

The license area is in shallow water with a depth of approximately 150 meters, which the Company believes will make drilling more cost efficient. The Yitzhak License has been granted for an initial period of three years commencing October 15, 2009.

Stephen Pierce, AMG’s Senior Vice President of Geology, said, “During early 1970 an oil well located in the area covered by the Yitzhak License called “Delta-1″ was drilled. The total depth of Delta-1 was 4423m, and ended in the Upper Jurassic. However, this depth is above the oil encountered in the Jurassic Bathonian age limestones in the Yam Yafo-1 (4894m – 4955m) and Yam-2 wells (5315m). It remains unclear as to why drilling stopped at this depth. However, the Delta-1 well was drilled in 1970 before the later discoveries of Yam Yafo-1 and Yam-2. Subsequent to Delta-1 being drilled, seismic mapping demonstrated a structural high extending from Delta-1 to the oil discoveries at Yam Yafo-1 to Yam-2. We believe that we have a good prospect that is an attractive target for hydrocarbon exploration.”

The Company’s successful application for the Yitzhak License expands AMG’s portfolio of petroleum licenses from its current two licenses (“Eitan” and Gabriella”) to include a prospective offshore area within a region that is known to host significant evidence of hydrocarbons.

AMG’s Chief Executive Officer, Ilan Diamond stated, “We are very pleased to have been successfully granted the Yitzhak License, the second block in the region. Both the Company’s offshore licenses, “Gabriella” and “Yitzchak” are within the broader region of the Nobel/Delek Tamar gas discoveries, which are 60 km west of Hadera (Dalit) and 90 km west of Haifa (Tamar). Evaluation work on our ‘Gabriella’ license has recently commenced and we are excited to continue work on this license. In addition, we continue to plan for the start of our exploration and drilling program on our “Eitan” license in the Hula Valley, northern region of Israel. We have completed the purchase of the drill rig and associated equipment, and are in the process of moving the rig to site. We have contracted the services of a full time drilling team who have significant experience operating rigs of similar nature and who have worked in the area previously.”