• Shell identified gas shows in the Sirius-1X exploration well drilled offshore Egypt in the Mediterranean.
• The well lies in the North East El‑Ameriya Block and reached a total depth of about 2,115 meters.
• Egyptian authorities will conduct further analysis to assess resource potential, with a possible development decision around 2027.

Energy major Shell has detected indications of natural gas while drilling an exploration well in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt, according to a statement issued on March 9 by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The findings relate to the Sirius-1X exploration well, drilled in the North East El‑Ameriya Block, located off the country’s northern coast. The ministry said the well reached a total depth of approximately 2,115 meters during drilling operations.

Preliminary analysis of the data collected during drilling indicates initial occurrences of natural gas in the Sirius geological formation. Officials described these signals as “encouraging.” Engineers based the assessment on technical analysis of the rock properties encountered during drilling operations. However, authorities stressed that the results remain preliminary.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resourcessaid technical teams will conduct additional analysis of the collected data in order to better assess the resource potential in the area. These studies will aim to determine the scale of the volumes present and the possible development pathways for the discovery.

Moreover, the ministry said the results from the Sirius-1X well could support plans to develop new gas resources in the region. Authorities indicated that the project could reach a preliminary development decision around 2027, potentially linked to the Mina West Project. At this stage, officials have not released any official estimate of the gas resources in place at the Sirius-1X well.

The announcement comes as hydrocarbon discoveries multiply across Egypt amid intensifying exploration activity. In particular, authorities have recorded several positive results in the Western Desert, one of the country’s main oil exploration areas. 

In early January, the ministry reported new oil and gas discoveries in the region following drilling campaigns conducted by several operating companies.

A few weeks earlier, state-owned General Petroleum Company (GPC) announced the discovery of the Badr-15 field in the same basin, according to information reported by Ecofin Agency.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum