BP Exploration Delta Limited, a subsidiary of British energy giant BP, has moved forward with plans for a five-well gas drilling campaign offshore Egypt. This follows a memorandum of understanding recently signed with the Egyptian government, signaling the company’s renewed commitment to expanding its gas operations in the country.
Valaris Limited secured the $140 million drilling contract, with activities scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026. The project will be executed using Valaris’s specialized offshore drilling capabilities, marking another milestone in the company’s collaboration with BP.
Official reports indicate that the drilling campaign will span approximately 350 days. This initiative builds on BP’s long-term gas development efforts in Egypt, particularly in the West Nile Delta region, located off the coast of Alexandria.
Valaris confirmed that the Valaris DS-12 drillship will be deployed for the operation. The vessel is designed to handle water depths between 300 and 1,500 meters. The scope of work includes drilling exploration, development, and bypass wells, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the target fields.
According to BP, the newly drilled wells will link directly to the company’s existing infrastructure in the West Nile Delta. This includes connections to the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater concessions, a strategy aimed at reducing connection timelines and cutting overall operating expenses.
The launch of this program comes as Egypt faces a consistent decline in natural gas production. Data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) shows output dropped to around 3.55 billion cubic meters in May 2025, compared with over 6.1 billion cubic meters recorded in March 2021.
Having maintained operations in Egypt since 1960, BP seeks to support national gas output while leveraging recent discoveries at the Fayoum-5 and El King-2 wells. In the West Nile Delta, BP holds proven and probable reserves of about 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 55 million barrels of condensate, underscoring the region’s strategic importance to its portfolio.
Under the project plan, BP will drill the five wells before moving into the testing and tie-in stages. The agreement also provides an option to drill three additional wells, contingent on the success of the initial campaign.
source: www.ecofinagency.com
African Energy Council