Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has announced the successful launch of two new offshore natural gas wells in the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea, marking a continued push to expand its energy production and reinforce its role as a regional gas hub. The new wells, located in the West Delta Deep Marine area, are expected to contribute a combined total of 60 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the country’s energy grid.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the newly operational “Sapphire South Central DB” well is the third well brought online under Phase 11 of the ambitious West Nile Delta Deep Marine project. The well alone has added approximately 50 million cubic feet of gas per day, along with 800 barrels of condensates, equivalent to about 9,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
In addition to the new Sapphire well, the ministry confirmed the successful reactivation of the “Scarab D4” well, which had been out of operation for an extended period. Its return adds another 10 million cubic feet per day to production roughly 1,700 barrels of oil equivalent.
Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi emphasized that these developments reflect the tangible outcomes of recent government reforms and incentives aimed at encouraging energy sector investment. “Phases 10 and 11 of the project are the result of strong government support, which has strengthened investor confidence and accelerated project implementation timelines,” Badawi said.
Egypt has been aggressively developing its natural gas reserves over the past several years, positioning itself as a key player in the regional energy market. The West Nile Delta project, in particular, is one of the country’s flagship initiatives, involving major international partners and aimed at tapping into some of the most promising reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Just days before the new wells were announced, Badawi also confirmed that drilling operations continue at the massive Zohr gas field, one of the largest ever discovered in the Mediterranean. The Ministry recently reported the successful completion of drilling at the “Zohr-6” well using the advanced offshore rig Saipem 10000. The Zohr-6 well alone has added an additional 60 million cubic feet per day to Egypt’s production capacity.
These developments come amid Egypt’s broader strategy to increase energy exports, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), at a time when global demand remains high and energy security has become a central geopolitical issue.
By ramping up production and improving infrastructure, Cairo is not only aiming to meet domestic energy needs but also to supply neighboring countries and European markets increasingly looking to diversify away from Russian energy.
With more drilling planned and ongoing exploration in both new and existing fields, Egypt appears poised to solidify its status as a leading natural gas producer in the Eastern Mediterranean for years to come.
