Egypt began producing natural gas from two new wells in the Mediterranean’s Raven gas field in February 2025—three months ahead of schedule, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
British Petroleum (BP) completed the drilling using the ultra-deepwater drillship Valaris DS-12, marking a swift and efficient expansion of the Raven field.
This development aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy to ramp up natural gas production, drive economic growth, and attract foreign investment.
The two new wells are expected to produce up to 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. The Raven expansion, with a price tag of approximately $200 million (EGP 9.95 billion), will directly supply gas to the West Nile Delta system.
This output supports Egypt’s target of reaching 6 billion cubic feet per day by the end of 2025, up from 4.6 billion cubic feet in 2024.
Nader Zaki, BP’s Regional President for the Middle East and North Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Egypt’s energy security and economic development through accelerated exploration efforts, reliable infrastructure, and close collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum.
Following the Raven project, BP promptly redeployed Valaris DS-12 to the nearby King area, where it drilled the King-2 exploratory well within the North King Mariout Offshore Concession. Operations were completed by early February 2025.
The well’s proximity to BP’s existing offshore infrastructure enabled rapid integration. The discovery of two promising reservoirs in the King-2 well has encouraged BP to continue its exploration efforts in the area, with the aim of unlocking additional reserves and enhancing Egypt’s energy independence.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Petroleum plans to drill 35 more gas exploration wells in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta regions by the end of 2025, backed by an investment of $1.8 billion (EGP 89.56 billion).
Over the past seven years, Egypt has partnered with international energy companies to drill 576 exploratory wells, resulting in 289 oil and gas discoveries—further solidifying the country’s position as a key player in the global energy landscape.
