Shell, KUPEC committed to Egyptian gas development
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Anglo-Dutch oil major, Shell, has declared commitment to drive its petroleum exploration campaign in Egypt to development stage after full analysis of preliminary discovery in the Northeast el-Amriya block in Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea
Vice President and Country Chair of Shell in Egypt, Khaled Kacem, said the Northeast el-Amriya block discovery is an important step forward for Shell Egypt; adding that “further evaluation of the acquired data is required to determine the size and recoverable potential of the discovery.”
He said Shell would work with its investment partners and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to conclude the ongoing exploration campaign and further move to development stage in the block.
“Successful delivery of our current exploration campaign is part of Shell Egypt’s growth strategy. Shell, together with its partners, will continue to work towards safely and efficiently reaching the development phase of the block,” he explained.
The Oracle Today reports that Shell Egypt had in a press statement announced discovery of a new gas-bearing reservoir in the first of the planned three well drilling campaign on the Northeast el-Amriya block.
Shell and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) had deployed Stena Drilling to use its Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU), Stena Forth rig, to carry out the drilling campaign.
Shell had in September signed a Farm-Out Agreement (FOA) with KUFPEC for acquisition of a 40 percent stake in Northeast el-Amriya block. Shell retains the remaining 60 percent stake of the partner’s share with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS).
Shell which operates the asset declared that it has “safely and successfully completed the drilling of the first well in its three-well exploration campaign, Mina West, located in the Northeast el-Amriya block, in the Mediterranean Sea.”
The company indicated that drilling activities occurred at a water depth of around 250 meters below sea level in the offshore Nile Delta, with primary data confirming the presence of a gas-bearing reservoir.
Kacem said the discovery is an important step forward for Shell Egypt, “bolstering our growth aspirations and ongoing commitment as a critical partner in Egypt’s energy landscape.”
“Successful delivery of our current exploration campaign is part of Shell Egypt’s growth strategy. Shell, together with its partners, will continue to work towards safely and efficiently reaching the development phase of the block,” he added.
