Chevron Approves Leviathan Gas Expansion in Eastern Mediterranean

By Charles Kennedy - Jan 16, 2026

Chevron has approved a major expansion of the Leviathan natural gas field offshore Israel, doubling down on its role as a cornerstone supplier in the Eastern Mediterranean gas market.

The U.S. oil major said on Friday that its subsidiary, Chevron Mediterranean Limited, alongside its partners, has reached a Final Investment Decision (FID) to increase production capacity at the Leviathan offshore platform. The project is designed to raise total gas deliveries from the reservoir to around 21 billion cubic meters per year, up from current levels.

The expansion will involve drilling three additional offshore wells, installing new subsea infrastructure, and upgrading processing facilities on the existing production platform. First gas from the expanded capacity is expected toward the end of the decade, subject to project execution timelines.

Leviathan is one of the largest natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean and plays a central role in supplying Israel’s domestic market as well as export volumes to Egypt and Jordan. Gas from the field is sent to Egypt via pipeline, where it is used both for domestic consumption and LNG exports to Europe and other markets.

Chevron framed the investment as a strategic move to strengthen regional energy security at a time of rising demand for reliable gas supplies. The company highlighted the role of natural gas as a transition fuel in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly as countries seek to balance energy affordability, security, and emissions goals.

The Leviathan production platform is located roughly 10 kilometers offshore Dor, Israel. Chevron operates the field with a 39.66% working interest. Its partners include NewMed Energy with 45.34% and Ratio Energies with 15%.

The expansion comes amid sustained interest in Eastern Mediterranean gas assets, driven by Europe’s push to diversify supply following the loss of most Russian pipeline gas. While volumes from Leviathan are modest relative to global LNG trade, the field has become a critical supply hub for the region, supporting Egypt’s LNG export infrastructure and underpinning long-term gas contracts in Israel and Jordan.

Chevron has steadily expanded its footprint in the region since acquiring Noble Energy in 2020. In addition to Leviathan, the company operates the Tamar gas field offshore Israel and is developing the Aphrodite gas field offshore Cyprus. It also holds operated and non-operated exploration positions offshore Egypt.

For Israel, the Leviathan expansion reinforces the country’s ambition to remain a regional gas exporter while ensuring long-term domestic supply. For Egypt, additional volumes could help stabilize LNG exports, which have faced intermittent disruptions due to domestic demand pressures and upstream constraints.

The decision also reflects a broader trend among international oil companies to prioritize gas investments with strong regional fundamentals and existing infrastructure, particularly where projects can be tied into established markets rather than relying on greenfield LNG developments.

Chevron did not disclose the total capital cost of the expansion in its announcement.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com