Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi has inspected the offshore drilling rig Cairo-2, operated by Modern Drilling Company in Alexandria, ahead of its transfer to the Dennis West 1X exploratory well in the Temsah concession, offshore Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Dennis West 1X well represents a significant technical challenge, set to be drilled in deep waters at depths exceeding 4,000 meters through slanted drilling operations. The project is managed by Belayim Petroleum Company, known as Petrobel, a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Italy’s Eni.
During the inspection, Minister Badawi emphasized that the site visit aligns with the Ministry’s broader strategy to increase oil and gas production, attract investment into exploration and development, and further reduce Egypt’s reliance on imported energy. He noted that the intensification of drilling programmes reflects the confidence and ongoing commitment of investment partners, especially Eni, to continuous exploration and production operations. These efforts are viewed as key to maintaining growth in domestic gas production and achieving new discoveries that will enhance production capacity.
The rig team presented a documentary highlighting Cairo-2’s technical features and safety procedures, followed by a technical briefing outlining the drilling strategy for the Dennis field. The Minister also met with operations leaders and commended their dedication to implementing innovative technologies in challenging offshore environments.
The Cairo-2 rig, also known as Qaher-2, ranks among Egypt’s flagship offshore platforms, equipped with leading-edge technologies developed in collaboration with global oilfield services provider Schlumberger. With a capacity to drill to depths of up to 30,000 feet, the platform stands as a cornerstone of Egypt’s ongoing drive to expand offshore exploration capabilities.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com