BP begins production from Egypt’s Atoll gas field

BP PLC said natural gas production has started 7 months ahead of schedule from Atoll Phase 1 project offshore Egypt on the North Damietta concession in the East Nile Delta. BP holds 100% interest in the concession.

The project is producing 350 MMscfd of gas and 10,000 b/d of condensate. Atoll is BP’s first new project to come on stream during 2018. A total of 13 projects started through 2016-17.

Bob Dudley, BP group chief executive, said longstanding partnerships in Egypt allowed BP to fast-track Atoll’s development and deliver gas 33 months after discovery in March 2015.

Atoll’s main reservoir contains an estimated 1.5 tcf of gas and 31 million bbl of condensate (OGJ Online, June 20, 2016). Additional segments are under evaluation.

The Atoll wells were drilled by Ensco PLC’s DS-6 ultradeepwater drillship.

The Atoll Phase 1 project, nearly a $1-billion investment, involved recompletion of the original exploration well as a producing well and the drilling of two additional production wells.

Production is exported to the existing onshore West Harbor gas processing plant. Subsea infrastructure was installed and onshore equipment was upgraded ahead of schedule.

BP Egypt, in collaboration with the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co., BP’s joint venture company with the Egyptian General Petroleum Co., has produced almost 40% of Egypt’s total oil production today and currently produces almost 10% of Egypt’s annual oil and condensate.