bp has successfully completed drilling at the El Fayoum-5 gas discovery well in the North Alexandria Offshore Concession, marking the conclusion of its four-slot drilling campaign in Egypt’s West Nile Delta (WND). This achievement further strengthens bp’s presence in the country and supports its long-term strategy of enhancing natural gas production to meet increasing energy demands.

Drilled using the Valaris DS-12 rig, El Fayoum-5 was spudded on February 14, 2025, and encountered four Messinian gas reservoirs, with a total sand thickness of 50 meters at a measured depth of approximately 2,900 meters. The well is set to be tied back to bp’s operated WND Gas Development, reinforcing Egypt’s natural gas infrastructure and ensuring a stable energy supply for domestic and regional markets.

This marks bp’s second consecutive gas discovery in recent months, following the success of the El King-2 well in the North King Mariout Offshore Concession. These back-to-back discoveries highlight bp’s ability to efficiently identify and develop hydrocarbon resources in the region.

Fast-Tracking Production and Strengthening Energy Security

bp is moving quickly to integrate the El Fayoum-5 and El King-2 discoveries into its existing operations. Commenting on the milestone, William Lin, EVP of Gas & Low Carbon at bp, emphasized the company’s strategic focus on accelerating production:

"This reinforces bp’s commitment to Egypt and its growing energy needs. With Raven Infills Phase 2 already contributing to production, we are now fast-tracking the El King and Fayoum discoveries to tie into our West Nile Delta infrastructure. The delivery of Raven Infills is fully aligned with our strategy to grow upstream operations and high-grade our global portfolio."

bp’s West Nile Delta Gas Development plays a vital role in Egypt’s energy security, consisting of several gas condensate fields located offshore within the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater concessions. The project includes multiple phases, with significant investment in infrastructure and development.

The Raven Field and Future Prospects

The Raven field, the final phase of the WND project, has been in production since early 2021. The initial development included eight subsea wells, located up to 65 km offshore, in water depths ranging from 550 to 700 meters. This phase significantly increased Egypt’s domestic gas supply, supporting industrial growth and economic expansion.

bp operates the WND project with an 82.75% stake, while Harbour Energy holds the remaining 17.25%. The successful completion of El Fayoum-5 further strengthens bp’s position as a leading gas producer in Egypt, aligning with its broader strategy of enhancing natural gas production and supporting global energy transition efforts.