BP’s 700 Million Dollar Egypt Drilling Programme Moves to Ghurab After Fayoum 4 Start Up
BP’s current Egyptian drilling programme has moved to the Ghurab exploration well after Fayoum 4 began producing about 80 million cubic feet of gas a day and was connected to the national grid two years ahead of schedule, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said on 24 September. The programme, which began in April, covers four firm wells with total investment of 700 million dollars.
The next wells
The rig has already moved to the Ghurab exploration well. It will then drill two deepwater exploration wells in succession for Arcius, the joint venture in which BP holds 51 percent and XRG 49 percent.
| Well | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fayoum 4 | Production | Producing, about 80 million cubic feet a day |
| Ghurab | Exploration | Rig on site |
| Two Arcius wells | Deepwater exploration | Next in sequence |
Egypt Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 24 September 2026.
The meeting
Minister Karim Badawi reviewed the programme with Gordon Birrell, BP’s executive vice president for exploration and production, Nader Zaki, BP’s regional president for the Middle East and North Africa, and Wael Shaheen, head of BP Egypt. The talks covered BP’s global priorities, its business plans in Egypt, drilling, exploration and production development, and its investment direction. The ministry said it is committed to transparency, governance and discipline, and to an attractive and stable investment climate built on clear and stable rules, while protecting the state’s rights and maximising the return on its resources.
Why it matters: On our calculation, 80 million cubic feet a day is about 2.3 million cubic metres of gas a day. On our reading, bringing Fayoum 4 into the grid two years ahead of schedule adds domestic gas supply sooner than planned, while the rig’s move to Ghurab and the two Arcius wells that follow keep the wider programme advancing.
Outlook: Results from the Ghurab well and the two Arcius deepwater wells will determine how much further the programme adds to Egypt’s gas supply.
Sources: Egypt Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
