Shell Egypt and its partners, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co (EGAS), the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp (EGPC) and Petronas, have signed an agreement to commence development of the tenth phase (phase 10) in Egypt’s Nile Delta offshore West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) concession in the Mediterranean Sea.

Subject to regulatory approvals, drilling activities are expected to commence in late 2023 when the rig arrives at the location. The phase 10 development programme includes the drilling of three wells. The Burullus Gas Company joint venture is the operator of the WDDM concession and the development phase 10.

HE Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Eng. Tarek El-Molla said: “This is a significant step towards unlocking further hydrocarbon potential in Egypt’s rich Nile Delta region. We are pleased to strengthen our longstanding partnership with Shell, which plays a crucial role in developing Egypt’s energy resources and supporting the country’s ambition to become a regional energy hub.”

Shell and its partners have developed the WDDM concession across nine development phases, the most recent being phase 9B. The concession comprises 17 gas fields, located at water depths ranging from 300 meters to 1,200 meters and spanning approximately 90 to 120 kms from the shore.