Energtek announced it has received a geological survey on the Nir-am, Sa’ad block, “identifying the potential for exploitable oil and natural gas reserves.” Its subsidiary Energtek Products has the exclusive license to explore and exploit the resources in the area.A new preliminary geological survey indicates 26 million barrels of recoverable oil, worth $2 billion may be sitting underneath the sandy soil in the area of two kibbutzim in the Western Negev.

The firm added, “Current estimates will need to be confirmed by additional studies. Additional seismic analysis, modeling and further verifications are required to compile more accurate data on the fields and to provide more accurate reports on actual recoverable reserves.” Besides the estimates of oil at a depth of 2,000 meters, or approximately a mile and a quarter, the preliminary survey also reports an additional estimate of 12 million barrels of recoverable oil at depths of up to 4,000 meters, worth $900 at current prices.

The area is adjacent to the small Heletz oil field, which so far has produced more than 16 million barrels of oil. If the new field is drilled, it will be the first deep-well drilling in the area in decades. The announcement of the possible new field comes one day after Israel entered a new era with the beginning of drilling of the huge Leviathan natural gas and oil field off the northern Mediterranean Coast.

Drilling and exploration over the next five months will cost $150 million, according to Delek Energy, the parent of Delek Drilling and partner Avner Oil. American-based Noble is also part of the consortium. “The drilling is intended to examine the potential of the Levantine basin,” according to Delek chief executive officer Gideon Tadmor, chief executive officer. “If this drilling project turns out to be a success, it will significantly strengthen Israel’s energy independence.” Noble also operates the nearby Tamar gas field, which it said may hold twice the reserves of reserves in Britain and can supply Israel with enough gas for decades.

The Negev Desert contains pavement that dates back 1.8 million years, making it the Earth’s oldest surface, according to Hebrew University scientists. They said the “pavement” has largely remained the same and has withstood erosion, volcanoes and underground movement of the earth that has caused major changes to other surfaces.
The Hebrew calendar dates from the sixth day of Creation, 5769 years ago. Rabbis have explained that the mass of “null and void” beforehand may have existed for millions of years. Authorities also have explained that the Bible was written so that everyone can comprehend it, and that one “day” in man’s eyes could be millions of years for the Creator.

Hebrew University researchers published their report in a recent issue of a science journal and the website of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The conclusion of the age of the Negev surface was assumed but unproven until recent the scientists completed their work. Researcher Avi Matmon said that the team of scientists measured concentrations of an isotope that is found only on the Earth’s surface, indicating how long it has been exposed to elements.

The second oldest surface that has survived the elements is in Nevada, but it is only a 450,000-year-old youngster compared with the Negev. Individual objects, such as rocks, have been found to be even older, but most continuous surfaces don’t last as long as the desert “pavement,” which has outlasted modern concrete and asphalt roads. Matmon said that similar results probably would be found in the Sahara and Arabian deserts.

Remains and Artifacts Dating to the End of the Kingdom of Judea and the Hellenistic Period were unearthed along the Bank of Nahal Be’er Sheva‘ (April 11, 2005) Excavations on the bank of Nahal Be’er Sheva‘, conducted on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Israel Railways Authority, revealed a unique dwelling complex and ancient finds, dating to the end of the Kingdom of Judea and the Hellenistic period. A survey conducted at the site determined that the first settlement should be dated to the end of the Kingdom of Judea, between 700–586 BCE.

The dwellings are characterized by circular caves with domed ceilings dug into the loess soil and wadi conglomerate, and connected by subterranean corridors. The complexes contained cooking ovens that were built of clay coils and ash, as well as numerous finds, including ceramic lamps, jars, kraters, cooking pots, bowls and saucers, imported wine amphorae, animal bones and clay loom weights that were used in weaving.

Yigal Israel, the district archaeologist of Be’er Sheva‘ and the Northern Negev, says that this architectural style has been known from the Chalcolithic period and is found in Be’er Sheva‘ and the surrounding region. He adds that “the Beduoins residing in the Be’er Sheva‘ Valley adopted this architectural style and one can see complexes dug into the loess that have survived to this very day in the Arad and Be’er Sheva‘ Valleys”. Jews in the 2nd century BCE, during the Hellenistic period, give evidenc to a farmstead. At the end of the Ottoman period, a farm house was erected at the eastern foot of the ruin and its remains are still there.

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