BP to Launch $140 Million Offshore Gas Drilling Project in Egypt’s West Nile Delta by 2026
BP Exploration Delta Limited, a subsidiary of British energy major BP, has announced plans to launch a five-well offshore gas drilling campaign in Egypt, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the country’s energy sector.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently signed with the Egyptian government, underscoring BP’s intent to expand its gas production capacity in the region.
The $140 million drilling contract has been awarded to Valaris Limited, a leading offshore drilling contractor.
Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, marking another significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between BP and Valaris.
According to official reports, the drilling program will span approximately 350 days, focusing on Egypt’s West Nile Delta region, located offshore near Alexandria.
The campaign will target both exploration and development wells, strengthening BP’s position as one of Egypt’s most active international energy investors.
Valaris confirmed that the Valaris DS-12 drillship will be deployed for the operation. The state-of-the-art vessel is capable of working in water depths ranging from 300 to 1,500 meters.
Its scope of work will include exploration, development, and bypass wells, ensuring efficient and comprehensive resource evaluation.
BP noted that the new wells will connect directly to its existing West Nile Delta infrastructure, including the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater concessions.
This approach is expected to reduce tie-in times, optimize production efficiency, and lower operational costs.
The campaign comes at a critical time, as Egypt faces a steady decline in natural gas output. Data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) shows that production dropped to around 3.55 billion cubic meters in May 2025, down from 6.1 billion cubic meters in March 2021.
BP, which has operated in Egypt since 1960, remains a key contributor to the nation’s gas supply. The company aims to leverage recent discoveries at the Fayoum-5 and El King-2 wells to help reverse the country’s production downturn.
In the West Nile Delta, BP holds proven and probable reserves of approximately 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 55 million barrels of condensate, underscoring the area’s strategic value within BP’s global portfolio.
Under the project framework, BP will drill five wells before proceeding to testing and tie-in stages. The agreement also includes an option to drill three additional wells, contingent upon the success of the initial phase.
With this development, BP continues to strengthen its role in Egypt’s gas market, supporting national energy security while expanding its low-carbon and gas-focused strategy across the Mediterranean region.
