RWE Dea Starts Gas Production in Egypt

RWE Dea achieved first production from the Central Treatment Plant (CTP) of the Disouq Development Project in Egypt. Production commenced at an initial rate of 45 million standard cubic feet gas per day. Total production of 150 million standard cubic feet gas per day from the Disouq project has been achieved already. RWE Dea’s oil and gas production in Egypt will be boosted by 50 percent. Further increase in production is expected in 2015.

Production from the CTP commenced at an initial rate of 45 million standard cubic feet gas per day. RWE Dea ramped up production progressively during the last few days to reach a rate of around 90 million standard cubic feet gas per day. Together with the North West Khilala gas plant, which has already been producing since September 2013, RWE Dea already achieved a total production of 150 million standard cubic feet gas per day ahead of schedule. RWE Dea’s partner in the project is the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS); production is operated by the joint venture Suez Oil Company (SUCO).

“We are pleased to inaugurate the Disouq Central Treatment Plant, as it marks a significant milestone in advancing production growth from our Egyptian assets,” said Dirk Warzecha, Chief Operating Officer of RWE Dea AG. “The volumes produced from our gas fields of the Disouq project make an important contribution to Egypt's domestic energy production to meet the needs of the country’s growing energy demand,” Warzecha explained. “We started the project during difficult times in the country, which required special measures for security and logistics. With this project RWE Dea demonstrates its commitment to Egypt and North Africa as a core region,” Dirk Warzecha added.

With the launch of the CTP, RWE Dea will boost its oil and gas production in Egypt by 50 percent from 29,000 to 44,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The company expects further production increases in CTP and North West Khilala up to the capacity of approximately 200 million standard cubic feet gas per day in 2015. “I am very delighted, that we have reached this very important milestone in our Disouq project”, said Maximilian Fellner, General Manager RWE Dea Egypt. “Our work program for the near future is extensive, as we plan to connect additional seven wells to the CTP and bring them on stream in 2015”, Fellner added.

The CTP currently produces gas from five wells in separate three gas fields, namely North Sidi Ghazy, South Sidi Ghazy and North West Sidi Ghazy Fields. The gas produced from the North West Khilala Field is processed in the additional North West Khilala gas plant. Dea’s operated Disouq project encompasses the development of seven gas fields in the Nile Delta.

RWE Dea Egypt and its predecessor organisation have been operating successfully in Egypt since 1974 and, as operator, can look back on three decades of oil production in the Gulf of Suez. In recent years the company made a number of major gas discoveries in Egypt and boosted its activities considerably with the acquisition of additional concessions. RWE Dea has a total of 10 onshore and offshore concessions in Egypt, across a concession area of about 3,700 square kilometres.