BP begins gas production from West Nile Delta

BP PLC has started gas production from Taurus and Libra fields, the first two of five fields in the West Nile Delta development of Egypt.

The fields are currently producing more than 700 MMscfd of sales gas and 1,000 b/d of condensate. Following final approval in 2015, development of Taurus and Libra was fast-tracked by 8 months to enable delivery of an annual average of more than 600 MMscfd to Egypt’s national gas grid, which first received gas from the project Mar. 24.

The Taurus and Libra project is a subsea greenfield development including nine wells—six in Taurus and three in Libra—and a 42-km tieback to the existing onshore processing facility where gas enters the Egyptian grid via a nearby export pipeline. Commissioning of all nine wells and ramp up to stable operations has been completed.

The West Nile Delta development, which encompasses the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater offshore concession blocks, is being developed as two separate projects. When fully on stream in 2019, combined production from both projects is expected to reach nearly 1.5 billion bcfd, equivalent to about 30% of Egypt’s current gas production. All gas produced will be fed into the national gas grid.

BP says the second West Nile Delta project, involving development of Giza, Fayoum, and Raven fields, also is ahead of schedule and under budget. The project will involve 12 wells and two deepwater long-distance subsea tiebacks to shore. Fluids will be processed through an onshore plant modified for Giza and Fayoum and integrated with a new adjacent onshore plant for Raven. Production from Giza, Fayoum, and Raven is expected to start in 2019.

The first phase of the West Nile Delta development is the second of seven major upstream projects from which BP expects to start production during 2017. Including last year’s startups, 500,000 boe/d of new production capacity is now expected by yearend. By decade’s end, BP expects to have added 800,000 boe/d of new production.

BP is operator of the West Nile Delta project with 82.75% interest. DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG holds the remaining 17.25%.