ATHENS, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Greece has named a consortium

of U.S oil major Chevron ( CVX ) and Helleniq Energy, the

country's biggest oil refiner, as preferred bidder for gas

exploration in southern offshore blocks, the Greek energy

ministry said on Friday.

The move comes after Chevron ( CVX ) and Helleniq submitted a

joint bid in a Greek tender this year to look for gas in four

deep-sea blocks off the Peloponnese peninsula and the island of

Crete.