BP launches Egypt's Raven field
UK major BP has started gas production from its Raven field, the third stage of its $9bn West Nile Delta (WND) development off the Mediterranean coast in Egypt, it said April 26.
The WND development includes five gas fields across the North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater offshore concession blocks in the Mediterranean Sea. BP and its partners developed the WND in three stages. The four other fields are Taurus/Libra and Giza/Fayoum, which started production in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
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Raven's gas flows to a new onshore processing facility, alongside the existing West Nile Delta onshore processing plant. Combined, the plants' processing capacity is 1.4bn ft³/day.
BP CEO Bernard Looney said West Nile Delta "will make an important contribution to meeting Egypt’s growing energy needs, by providing a cost-competitive and resilient gas supply from the country’s own resources.”
Raven now produces about 600mn ft³/day but this will rise to a maximum 900mn ft³/day with 30,000 barrels/d of condensate.
BP's regional head Karim Alaa said that the WND partners would explore the potential use of the facilities for "developing future infill and nearby exploration opportunities.”
In total, the WND development comprises 25 wells flowing gas to the onshore processing plant via three long-distance subsea tie-backs.
Throughout the different phases of the project, BP has invested in sustainable local community development projects, maximised local content, and created thousands of jobs, direct and indirect, for Egyptian nationals. The gas flows into the national grid.
Wintershall, in its own statement the same day, said: "The startup for Raven is a major step forward. Now we are looking ahead to start our exploration at East Damanhour – our next exciting project in Egypt.”
Wintershall Dea operates the East Damanhour exploration block, not far from Disouq. In 2021 the company will begin a drilling campaign involving several wells. Wintershall Dea’s activities in Egypt includes gas production at Disouq in the onshore Nile Delta, in joint ventures with the state Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and EGAS.