Oil major BP is planning to reach first gas from its 1.5 Tcf and 31 MMbbl condensate deep water Atoll field offshore Egypt in 1H 2018.
The firm has sanctioned a Phase One development project targeting up to 300 MMcf/d, with backing from the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), in the North Damietta Offshore Concession in the East Nile Delta. Atoll Phase One will comprise an early production scheme (EPS) involving the recompletion of the existing exploration well as a producing well, the drilling of two additional wells and the installation of the necessary tie-ins and facilities required to produce from the field.
The Atoll wells will be drilled using Ensco's DS-6 ultra-deepwater drillship, which arrived in Egypt last month and is expected to start drilling in August for roughly the next 24 months.
Onshore processing will be handled by the existing West Harbour gas processing facilities. Success of the Atoll Phase One EPS could lead to further investment in the Atoll Phase Two full field development.
BP announced the Atoll discovery in March 2015. The Atoll-1 deepwater exploration discovery well in the North Damietta Offshore concession in East Nile Delta was drilled using the 6th generation semi-submersible rig Maersk Discoverer. The exploration well reached a depth of 6400m and penetrated approximately 50m of gas pay in high quality sandstones.
The Atoll Heads of Agreement was signed by His Excellency Tarek El Molla, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Bob Dudley, BP Group CEO in November 2015, just eight months after the discovery.
Hesham Mekawi, Regional President, BP North Africa commented: “BP is proud to progress the acceleration of the Atoll project which will bring critical gas to the Egyptian market and establish a new material hub offshore East Nile Delta. Our confidence in the prospectivity of the area along with our ongoing commitment to Egypt and our successful history of partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, EGPC and EGAS is allowing us to fast track Atoll from discovery to production in less than three years which is a significant achievement.”
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Image: Ensco's DS-5. The DS-6 is being used to drill Atholl.
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