Stena Forth drillship
Shell, holding a 60% stake and acting as the operator, will collaborate with KUFPEC (Egypt) Limited, which owns a 40% interest, and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS). The Mina West field, discovered in October 2023, will utilize a subsea tie-back to the existing West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) infrastructure, operated by Shell and its joint venture, Burullus. This approach aims to deliver reliable energy to Egypt’s domestic gas market.
Dalia ElGabry, Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Energy Egypt, stated: “Investing in new production at Mina West expands our industry-leading integrated gas business and supports delivery of secure, reliable energy to Egypt’s domestic market in line with our strategy to create more value with less emissions.” The field is estimated to contain 0.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, with development supported by the Stena Forth mobile offshore drilling unit.
KUFPEC’s CEO, Eisa A. Al-Maraghi, said: “KUFPEC has long been a key player in advancing upstream oil and gas projects worldwide. Our partnership with Shell in Egypt reflects our broader commitment to energy cooperation and strategic investments throughout the region.” This collaboration underscores the companies’ focus on enhancing Egypt’s energy supply.
The WDDM concession recently saw two wells, Sparrow West-1 and Siena DE, brought online as part of Phase XI. According to Global Maritime, which provided marine warranty survey services, Siena began production in June 2025, and Sparrow followed in July, ahead of schedule. Located at water depths of 600 to 880 meters, these wells contribute over 80 million standard cubic feet per day to production.
The Egyptian Petroleum Ministry noted that efforts are ongoing to fast-track a third well in this phase, targeting production by September. This development is expected to add up to 130 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, supporting Egypt’s goal of strengthening its energy security. The country is also advancing energy initiatives through the deployment of floating storage and regasification units, with the Energos Winter unit set to arrive soon.
This project aligns with Egypt’s broader efforts to enhance domestic energy production and ensure a stable supply for consumption, leveraging both natural gas developments and strategic infrastructure investments.
