JERUSALEM, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Partners in the Israeli

Leviathan offshore natural gas project have submitted a

multi-billion dollar plan with the government to significantly

expand the field and boost production, one of the partners in

the group said on Sunday.

NewMed Energy said its plan that it filed with

the Energy Minister's Petroleum Commissioner calls for the

drilling of three additional production wells, more undersea

systems and expansion of processing facilities on the platform

that will increase total gas production capacity to 21 billon

cubic meters (bcm) a year and cost an estimated $2.4 billion.

Leviathan, a deep-sea field with huge deposits, came online

at the end of 2019 and produces 12 bcm of gas per year for sale

to Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

That will rise to some 14 bcm in 2026 with the completion of

laying of a third pipeline.

A second stage, NewMed said, would see the drilling of

additional production wells and possibly lay a fourth pipeline

between the field and platform and raise the maximum daily

production capacity by 2 bcm a year to a total of 23 bcm

annually.

The partners are seeking to sign new supply deals to

customers in Israel and abroad of more than 100 bcm.

NewMed noted that the partners have already approved a

budget of $505 million that included the purchase of equipment.

"The Leviathan reservoir is the most stable and strongest

energy hub in the Mediterranean," said Yossi Abu, CEO of NewMed

Energy. "The expanded production capacity will meet the

increasing demand in the domestic market, in addition to

bolstering Israel's status as an energy provider and

strengthening regional ties and collaborations".

Leviathan partners also include Chevron ( CVX ) and Ratio

Energies.