BP has started natural gas production from the Fayoum 4 well in the West Nile Delta, adding around 80 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) to Egypt’s domestic gas output, two years ahead of schedule.
The start of production is part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ strategy to increase domestic oil and natural gas production, accelerate field development, and bring new wells on stream.
BP accelerated the project while maximising the use of existing infrastructure, supporting efforts to boost domestic output, the ministry said in a statement.
The company brought forward production through an accelerated development programme and by utilising existing offshore infrastructure. The move highlights the importance of integrating exploration, development, and production to speed up bringing new discoveries online, the statement added.
BP carried out a successful exploration campaign in 2025 that resulted in the discovery of the well. The company subsequently began developing the well and connecting its production to the West Nile Delta gas processing facilities.
To maximise the field’s resources, BP also successfully drilled a sidetrack to reach new Messinian reservoir layers within the West Nile Delta field at depths of around 3,000 metres. This was achieved without needing to drill a separate well or install new subsea infrastructure, helping to reduce the time required to start production.
The well’s production has been connected to the West Nile Delta gas processing facilities through the Giza-Fayoum pipeline, using innovative engineering solutions to overcome technical challenges and utilise existing offshore infrastructure. This has enabled additional gas volumes to be brought into production more quickly.
The start of production from the ‘Fayoum 4’ well reflects the company’s continued support for the ministry’s strategy to accelerate field development, maximise the use of existing infrastructure, and deploy advanced technologies to increase Egypt’s domestic natural gas production, BP President Egypt Wael Shaheen said.
The West Nile Delta area comprises a number of gas fields located in Egyptian offshore waters under the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater concessions, Shaheen added.
BP operates the West Nile Delta facilities with an 82.75 per cent stake, while Harbour Energy holds the remaining 17.25 per cent.
