ExxonMobil has drilled the Nefertari-1 well in the North Marakia Block using the Valaris-owned DS-9 drillship, reaching a water depth of 1,720 meters in the western Mediterranean Sea.
The company identified gas-bearing reservoirs and plans to analyze the findings further.
As the operator of the block, ExxonMobil collaborated with QatarEnergy as a partner on the project.
ExxonMobil extended the drillship’s contract by exercising a six-month priced option, with the additional work scheduled to begin in January 2025 as a continuation of the current program.
The contract includes two additional six-month extension options, allowing the firm to further extend the rig’s drilling activities if needed.
Built in 2015, the Valaris DS-9 drillship features a Samsung 78k design and can house up to 200 crew members.
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reported that ExxonMobil’s findings revealed two primary gas-bearing layers within the Cretaceous formation, with gas volume estimates still under calculation.
The ministry noted that the well’s shallow depth of approximately 2,700 meters would facilitate quick and efficient development, especially given its proximity to existing facilities with sufficient capacity.
ExxonMobil applied advanced drilling technologies and the latest seismic data processing tools to confirm gas discoveries in this previously untapped area, paving the way for further exploration in the western Mediterranean region.
The ministry expressed optimism that the discovery would inspire more companies to explore opportunities in the region.
Designed to operate in water depths of up to 12,000 feet (approximately 3,658 meters) and drill down to 40,000 feet (around 12,192 meters), the rig previously worked for ExxonMobil in Angola, where the company discovered oil in Block 15 and negotiated a cost recovery agreement with the National Oil, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG).
BP, another major energy player, completed drilling two wells and aims to bring them into production next month.
Subsea commissioning operations are underway in the Mediterranean Sea as another Valaris-owned drillship moves to its next target in the East Mediterranean.
Egypt plans to boost hydrocarbon exploration by signing 15 new agreements by the end of 2024 and 2025, offering up to $20 million in signature bonuses, committing $748.5 million in minimum investments, and drilling at least 46 wells.
Alongside ExxonMobil’s and BP’s efforts in Egyptian waters, Chevron is preparing to drill the Khanjar-1 well, and Eni plans to resume drilling at the Zohr field.
African Energy Council