BP starts Nile Delta Seth field gas production

A BP PLC-led group has started gas production from Seth field in the Nile Delta offshore Egypt.

Two wells in the western part of the Seth reservoir are expected to reach 170 MMscfd and develop about 240 bcf of gas, BP said. Meanwhile, the group has accelerated Phase 2 development of the eastern part of Seth through two more platform wells that should go on production by the end of 2012, hiking total output to more than 250 MMscfd.

The Seth development went on production on June 23, 18 months from project section and 15 weeks ahead of schedule. BP predecessor Amoco Production Co. led a group that discovered Seth and other Nile Delta fields in the mid-1990s (see map, OGJ, Aug. 26, 1996, p. 61).

Seth field is 60 km offshore in the Ras El Barr concession in the East Nile Delta Mediterranean near the group’s producing Ha’py and Denise fields.

Seth is being developed with a 6-slot, normally unmanned platform in 262 ft of water. Gas is being shipped via the Denise (Pliocene) pipeline to the El Gamil gas terminal near Port Said. El Gamil handles 20% of the gas produced in Egypt.

BP is operator of Ras el Barr with 50% interest, and Eni SPA has 50% through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Co.

BP said its joint venture with Egyptian General Petroleum Corp./EGAS, the Pharaonic Petroleum Co., and BP’s partners produces nearly 40% of Egypt’s domestic gas demand.

BP is actively exploring in the Nile Delta and investing to add production from existing discoveries, and it is developing West Nile Delta, a strategic project that will supply critical gas to the domestic market.