Shell Egypt has kicked off its 2026 Mediterranean drilling campaign following the arrival of the Stena IceMAX drillship, operated by Stena Drilling. The multi-well program will begin with development wells at the Mina West field and the Sirius exploration prospect, followed by drilling at the Velox exploration well.
“This is a crucial operational milestone for Shell in Egypt and for the country’s energy sector,” said Dalia ElGabry, Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Egypt. “The arrival of Stena IceMAX enables the next phase of our drilling campaign in the Mediterranean, supporting the advancement of Mina West and our wider exploration portfolio.”
The campaign targets the development of the Mina West field in the North East El Amriya concession area, where two wells will be developed through subsea tie-back to existing producing deepwater wells. The Sirius exploratory well will assess a natural gas reservoir in shallower waters within the same concession, designed to accelerate near-infrastructure exploration opportunities. The Velox well represents frontier exploration activities in the North Cleopatra area of the Herodotus Basin.
Discovered in October 2023, the Mina West gas field will be developed through a subsea tie-back connection to the established West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) facilities. This infrastructure-led approach is designed to accelerate production timelines and ensure a steady supply of energy to meet Egypt’s domestic natural gas demands.
Shell operates the Mina West Development field with a 60 percent stake, partnered with Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), which holds 40 percent. Both companies are working in close cooperation with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS).
The drilling campaign aligns with Egypt’s strategic ambitions to position itself as a regional energy hub and supports the responsible development of the country’s natural gas resources. ElGabry emphasized Shell’s commitment to working with partners and the Egyptian government to deliver safe, efficient, and value-driven upstream projects.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com