BG Egypt is enhancing the country’s gas infrastructure with an upgraded well control system enabling it to bring new wells on in the complex West Delta Deep Marine concession while maintaining supply from existing wells, offshore the Nile Delta. Delivered ahead of schedule, this latest development, known as Phase 9a, has already started production from three of the nine wells in the programme. The new well control system can now manage the production from additional wells simultaneously and provides the capacity for future potential developments.

BG Egypt President Arshad Sufi commented: “Following the $1.5 billion investment in the West Delta Deep Marine concession, our technical team has upgraded the well control system, enhancing the country’s gas infrastructure. This has enabled us to safely start up new wells while keeping existing ones producing. This has meant we have been able to supply much-needed gas to our customers and partners which has helped to support the Egyptian economy.

“This year marks 25 years of our company operating in Egypt and through our investment in infrastructure, and people in particular, we are proud to have played a key role in developing the country’s gas industry.”

Undertaken on behalf of the WDDM partners (BG 50%, PETRONAS 50%) by Burullus Gas Company (EGPC 50%, BG 25%, PETRONAS 25%), the Phase 9a project scope includes the drilling, completion, hook-up and commissioning of nine wells including rigid flow lines, flexible flow lines, infield control system umbilicals, two new main power distribution cables and associated significant topside controls system modifications and subsea structures. The main scope for the engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning (EPIC) of the subsea infrastructure comprising, flow-lines, umbilicals and structures was awarded to Saipem. Supply of the subsea controls and production tree equipment was from GE and One Subsea respectively. Drilling operations were undertaken by Saipem, Diamond and Transocean. Saipem is currently completing the pre-drilled wells. Phase 9a projects achieved 1.9 million man hours with zero lost time incidents (LTI).

About BG Egypt

BG Egypt is a subsidiary of BG Group, one of the principal foreign investors in Egypt. It is a leading player in the development of the local natural gas industry with investments spanning the gas chain from exploration through development and production to LNG. The company is one of the largest producers of natural gas in Egypt.

The West Delta Deep Marine Concession was awarded to BG Egypt in 1995. The Scarab and Saffron fields were brought on-stream in March 2003 delivering gas to the domestic market. Subsequently, the Simian, Sienna and Sapphire fields entered production. Completed in February 2008, WDDM Phase 4 brought into development seven additional deepwater wells in the Scarab/Saffron and Simian subsea fields. Phase 5, an onshore booster compression project, came onstream in May 2009, while Sequoia, a unique project representing Phase 6 of the development of WDDM and Phase 4 of the development of BG Egypt’s other Concession, Rosetta, came onstream in August 2009, bringing six additional wells, three on each Concession.

Gas from Phase 8a, a deepwater development project and an extension of the existing deepwater subsea infrastructure comprising nine subsea wells entered operations in October 2011, while gas from Phase 8b came on stream on in June 2012.

BG Egypt is the operator of the Concession and holds 50 per cent equity. PETRONAS holds the remaining 50 per cent. Burullus Gas Company S.A.E a Joint Operating Company of EGPC, BG Egypt, and PETRONAS conducts operations on behalf of the WDDM partners.

About BG Group

BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a broad portfolio of business interests focused on exploration and production and liquefied natural gas. Active in more than 20 countries on five continents, BG Group combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercialising reserves.