08-03-00 Noble Affiliates announced its wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Samedan, Mediterranean Sea, has made a significant natural gas discovery offshore Israel. The Mari-B ##1 well was drilled in 795 feet of water approximately 15 miles off the coast of Israel. The well was drilled to 6,830 feet total depth and logged approximately 550 feet of gas in one zone. Based upon log analysis, the gas bearing zone has 28 % average porosity and 1.3 darcy average permeability.
Eighty-nine feet of the zone was perforated and tested gas at the rate of 33 mm cfpd of gas through a 48/64 inch choke with 2,060 pounds flowing tubing pressure. Gas flow from the well was restricted by testing equipment limitations on the drilling rig. The company estimates the well would be capable of producing in excess of 100 mm cfpd of gas on a sustained basis with appropriate production facilities.
The Mari-B ##1 discovery is a follow-up to the Noa ##1 discovery located eight miles to the west. It confirms the presence of commercial hydrocarbon accumulations in a large area offshore Israel. The rig will move approximately one mile to the east and commence drilling a confirmation well. Estimated drilling time is approximately 20 days.

Samedan, Mediterranean Sea is operator of the well and owns a 40 % working interest. Other owners in the well include Avner Oil Exploration Limited Partnership, 21.39 %; Delek Drilling Limited Partnership, 23.61 % and R&B Mediterranean, a wholly owned subsidiary of R&B Falcon Corporation, 15 %.

Noble Affiliates is an independent energy company with exploration and production operations throughout major basins in the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, as well as international operations primarily in Argentina, China, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, the Mediterranean and the North Sea.