Cyprus gas field smaller than initial estimate

                
Cyprus' energy minister says that a gas field off the country's southern coast contains between 3.6 and 5 trillion cubic feet (0.1-0.14 trillion cubic meters) of natural gas, noticeably less than an earlier estimate.             

But Yiorgos Lakkotrypis says that the bailed-out country's plans to build a gas processing facility to export excess supply remains on track amid good prospects of future gas finds inside Cypriot waters.              

Lakkotrypis said Thursday a second appraisal well to specify gas quantities in the field will be needed which may cause delays in building the processing facility, but authorities are striving to avoid that.               

A 2011 estimate put the size of the field  being developed by U.S. firm Noble Energy Inc. and its Israeli partners Delek and Avner  at 5-8 trillion cubic feet.              


AP