Nigel Curson

Egypt gas development update! Shell and KUFPEC have taken FID on the Mina West gas discovery, in the North East El Amriya concession, in Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea. Discovered in February 2023, the field will be developed as a subsea tie-back to Shell’s West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) facilities. The discovery came during Shell’s nine-well drilling campaign. KUFPEC farmed into the block shortly before drilling began at Mina West-1.   Mina West is the first greenfield gas development in Egypt in two years, and it will be welcome news by authorities in Cairo. Egypt is actively working to boost domestic gas exploration and development, amid growing reliance on gas imports.

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We are thrilled to announce the successful implementation of the first-ever AccessESP retrievable ESP technology in Qatar, in collaboration with our partner, TotalEnergies.   Key Highlights: ✅ Flawless Execution: Our Baker Hughes field specialist team achieved 0 NPT, earning the highest score in the client satisfaction survey ✅ First Installation: This is the first-ever installation of AccessESP technology in Qatar ✅ Efficient Deployment: We completed the deployment ahead of schedule, finishing two days earlier than planned ✅ High Production Rate: The system is producing 7,200 barrels per day, surpassing expectations for our 375 system ✅ Energy Efficiency: The PMM technology used consumes less voltage compared to previously installed induction motors   We extend our gratitude to TotalEnergies Qatar for their unwavering support and partnership, which was instrumental in achieving this success. Together, we have set a new benchmark for efficiency and innovation in the region and are happy to see our customers experiencing less rig time, and more run time with AccessESP.   #ProductionSolutions #WeAreBakerHughes #ArtificialLiftLeaders #OilandGas

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Is offshore Nile Delta for you? (musings from the desk of a retired geologist) Egypt has significantly ramped up oil and gas exploration in the offshore Nile Delta and Mediterranean regions to boost domestic energy production and reduce reliance on imports. Recent Contracts and Investments: In August 2025, Egypt signed four exploration agreements worth over $340 million with international firms, including Shell, Eni, Arcius Energy (a BP-ADNOC joint venture), and Zarubezhneft. These deals, managed by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), focus on drilling 10 new wells in the Nile Delta and Mediterranean, with specific projects in the Merneith offshore block ($120 million, 3 wells), East Port Said ($100 million, 3 wells), North Damietta ($109 million), and North Khatatba onshore in the Nile Delta ($14 million, 4 wells). 2024 Bid Round: In 2024, EGAS launched an international bid round for 12 blocks (10 offshore, 2 onshore) in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta, aiming to attract foreign investment and enhance exploration. This initiative resulted in six new blocks awarded in June 2025, with $245 million in investments for 13 exploratory wells, including four offshore Mediterranean blocks and two onshore in the Nile Delta and North Sinai. Companies like Chevron, Shell, Eni, and Cheiron Egypt are involved. Production and Development Plans: Egypt’s oil and gas sector produced 1.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2024, with a 30,000 bbl/d increase in oil and 133 million cubic feet per day in gas during Q1 FY24/25. For FY25/26, EGAS plans to implement seven gas development projects and add 24 new wells to production. Exploration efforts include drilling seven exploratory and evaluation wells in H1 FY24/25, with BP currently drilling the Fayoum-5 well in North Alexandria. Significant Discoveries: BP’s discovery in the King Mariout offshore block (West Nile Delta) in February 2025 is notable, with its proximity to existing infrastructure facilitating rapid integration to boost gas output. Ambitious Exploration Program: Egypt announced a $1.8 billion plan to drill 35 gas wells in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta by July 2025, involving major players like Eni, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP. This aligns with Egypt’s strategy to reverse declining gas production, which fell to 3.545 billion cubic meters in May 2025, down 40% from March 2021. Summary: Exploration in the offshore Nile Delta is active, with substantial investments, new contracts, and drilling programs aimed at leveraging the region’s gas potential. These efforts are part of Egypt’s broader strategy to enhance energy security, reduce imports, and position itself as a regional energy hub. However, aging fields and past investment delays continue to challenge output growth #Egypt #OffshoreEgypt #NileDelta #OilGasExploration #Oil #Gas #Geology

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BP and Eni set their cap on stepping up Mediterranean oil & gas game. (Offshoreenergy)- Two European energy giants, the UK-headquartered BP and Italy’s Eni, have signed on the dotted line to pursue hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Mediterranean Sea, which will lend Egypt a helping hand in augmenting the Middle Eastern country’s oil and gas production volume. While revealing its recent incentive agreement, which aims to enhance hydrocarbon exploration activities, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources explained that the deal was inked between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Eni and BP to initiate exploration activities in the Mediterranean. This is aligned with Egypt’s agenda to stimulate investment in hydrocarbon exploration and field development from July 2024, encompassing the drilling of 586 oil and gas wells by 2030. BP has taken several steps to bolster its asset portfolio in this country, including the agreement to form a new joint venture (JV) with ADNOC, known as the BP-XRG JV. After Eni drilled one well a few weeks ago with Saipem’s rig, the Italian giant confirmed plans to start drilling the Zohr 13 well, which is expected to contribute 55 million cubic feet of gas per day, based on engineering studies, strengthening the local production system.

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Excited to announce that Jawad Alsadah and Jay Lacombe will be presenting at this Thursday's International Association of Directional Drilling (IADD) event, focusing on Short Hop technology. The demand for inter-BHA communication from various sources has made this topic increasingly relevant. Over the years, we have developed magnetic, acoustic, and EM-gap wireless downhole hops, and Jawad is eager to share the insights gained from our experiences. Reflecting on the evolution of our projects, I remember my initial involvement in a single-bit, one-way magnetic coil hop, spanning around 10 feet, tailored for a specific land-based market segment many moons ago. Contrasting that with our current state-of-the-art hop, boasting over 1,000 bps, two-way communication, capable of transmitting over thousands of feet, and utilized in both land and offshore applications, showcases the remarkable progress made in this field. Looking forward to engaging with industry peers and sharing our journey at the upcoming event! #mwd #DirectionalDrilling #WirelessTechnology #IADDEvent

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