Egypt Daily News – The Raven gas field, located in the western Nile Delta of Egypt, is an integral part of the country’s strategy to develop its natural gas resources, primarily in collaboration with the British oil company BP.
This strategic partnership aims to boost total natural gas production, which is crucial for meeting the rising demand in the local market, particularly in the electricity sector.
The field encompasses five individual fields with 25 wells, which are expected to tap into significant gas reserves. According to the Washington-based energy platform, BP has deployed the drilling ship “Valaris DS-12” to the Raven gas field.
This ship is equipped with advanced technology and is capable of drilling in waters up to 12,000 feet deep. The vessel commenced its drilling operations on July 2, targeting the development of two new wells, West Raven-4 and West Raven-5, which are projected to yield approximately 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and around 8,000 barrels of condensate daily.
The financial investment for drilling these wells is estimated at $200 million, alongside an additional $120 million earmarked for subsequent projects at other locations like Giza and Fayoum. Despite Egypt’s official self-sufficiency in gas, recent production declines—especially from the Zohr field—have led the country to import liquefied natural gas to manage shortfalls.
The Raven gas field not only contributes to Egypt’s immediate gas requirements but is also linked to broader projects, including connections to the Western Desert Gas Complex, which supports local petrochemical production.
BP holds about 83% ownership of the field, with operational oversight provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum. Currently, the field’s production stands at around 600 million standard cubic feet per day, with ambitions to increase this figure to 900 million cubic feet per day in the future.
BP’s continued investment in Egypt comes as the company has secured agreement from the Egyptian government regarding the repayment of $1.6 billion in dues, facilitating ongoing exploration and development efforts in the region.
