Shell has reported positive early results from its Sirius-1X exploratory well in Egypt’s Mediterranean waters, raising the prospect of a new gas development that could come online as early as 2029 and serve as a building block for the country’s domestic energy security ambitions.
The well, located in the North East Alameya block and operated by Shell, reached its target depth of 2,115 metres and returned what the company described as encouraging preliminary indications for the Sirius exploration interval. If an early development decision is reached — which Shell says could happen in 2027 — production at Sirius is targeted to begin in 2029, representing a subsequent phase of development following the Mina West field.
Shell and its partner, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), worked with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to optimise the drilling strategy by leveraging geological and technical data gathered from the nearby Mina West 2 well. The approach eliminated the need for a separate data collection well, delivering meaningful cost savings on the programme.
Operations at the Mina West 2 well are continuing, with officials expecting that field to come online before the end of 2026. The Sirius-1X well marks the first exploratory project Shell has executed in Egypt this year, part of a broader strategy to expand exploration and production activity within its Mediterranean concession areas.
Shell holds a 60 percent operating stake in the North East Amriya area, with KUFPEC holding the remaining 40 percent. The 2026 Mediterranean drilling campaign, which began following the arrival of the Stena IceMAX drillship earlier this year, will also include drilling of the Velox exploration prospect.
Source: Egypt Oil & Gas