BG makes 13th discovery on West Delta Deep Marine concession off Egypt

Nov. 14, 2001
BG Egypt, Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., and Edison International SPA announced a natural gas discovery with their Saurus-1 well in the West Delta Deep Marine Concession off the Nile Delta, Egypt.

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Nov. 14 -- BG Egypt, Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., and Edison International SPA announced a natural gas discovery with their Saurus-1 well in the West Delta Deep Marine concession (WDDM) off the Nile Delta, Egypt.

That marks a 100% success rate with 13 successful exploration and appraisal wells drilled in that concession, officials said.

Saurus-1, 120 km north of Alexandria, is the first discovery in the Saurus prospect. The prospect, in 630 m of water in the west of the concession, tested 30.89 MMscfd of gas on a 56/64-in. choke.

Officials said a high-quality geoscience interpretation of 3D seismic data enabled the well to deliver as originally predicted. An extensive logging program including pressure tests confirmed a high net to gross channel more than 100 m thick, which contains a fully connected gas column.

"Given our experience and knowledge of drilling in deepwater terrain in this concession, BG and partners were able to implement a fast-track economic drilling program realizing substantial cost savings," said Stuart Fysh, vice-president of BG Egypt. "Together with partners we have developed innovative processing technology which enables us to map gas reserves from seismic data."

Burullus Gas Co., a joint venture between BG Egypt, Edison International, and Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., is responsible for drilling and field development of the WDDM concession.

BG Egypt, Edison and EGPC also are developers of the proposed $900 million Egyptian LNG export project, on track for project sanction in the second quarter of 2002.