en.Wedoany.com Reported - During an inspection, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Badawi stated that drilling and exploration operations should incorporate the latest technologies to improve operational success rates and maximize the utilization of natural gas resources. He also commended Pharaoh Petroleum Company's plans regarding research, exploration, and gas field development.
The Harmattan gas field development and production project, located in the Mediterranean Sea, targets an output of approximately 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, along with 4,400 barrels of petroleum condensate per day. In February 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum announced the final investment decision for the field's development and commenced drilling operations, with an initial target of 150 million cubic feet of natural gas and 3,300 barrels of condensate per day, subsequently to be increased to 200 million cubic feet and 4,400 barrels per day.
Hossam Zaki, President of Pharaoh Petroleum Company, stated that the company is studying the technical solutions required to accelerate the project timeline and plans to lay a 50-kilometer-long gas pipeline to connect the field with the "Hapi" station. ENPPI serves as the general contractor responsible for project implementation, with partners including Petrojet and Petroleum Marine Services.
Zaki also outlined the company's overall arrangements for increasing natural gas and condensate production. In fiscal year 2025/2026, the company achieved 100% of its production plan targets. Subsequent work also includes advancing gas field development, drilling, and exploration projects within its operational areas. As scheduled, the "Tort-6" well will be brought into production before the end of the year, with a target daily output of 40 million cubic feet of natural gas.
In terms of exploration, the company plans to use the "Valaris DS-12" rig to drill the "West Atoll" exploration well, with an investment of approximately $91 million and a designed depth of 6,000 meters. Additionally, the "Binyo" well will be drilled in the Ras El Bar area. The "Valaris DS-12" drillship arrived in Egyptian territorial waters in March 2026, as part of a plan by BP and Arcius Energy to drill four new natural gas wells in the Mediterranean.
Accelerating the development of the Harmattan gas field is part of Arcius Energy's broader expansion of its natural gas business in Egypt. In November 2025, the company acquired all production and exploitation rights under the commitment agreement for the "Al-Burj" offshore area, which includes the contract for developing the Harmattan gas field, following its earlier acquisition of Shell's and BP's rights and obligations in the area. In February 2026, Arcius announced the official commencement of drilling operations at the field and approved an investment budget of $449 million for the company's next fiscal year, covering the Harmattan development and the drilling of two wells in the first phase. In July 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum further confirmed that Arcius's work this year includes the Harmattan development, offshore drilling activities initiated with the "West Atoll" exploration well, and continued participation in the development of the Zohr gas field and the North Damietta area.
These measures are part of the Ministry of Petroleum's strategy to increase domestic natural gas production, implemented through strengthening drilling and exploration efforts and accelerating the development of undiscovered finds. The Ministry plans to drill more than 100 exploration wells in 2026 and advance development well operations at existing gas fields to support domestic production in the coming years. Egypt is also developing other discoveries in the Mediterranean, with the West Mina gas field targeting an additional approximately 160 million cubic feet of natural gas and 1,900 barrels of condensate per day, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2026.
During the inspection, Badawi called for improving the safety system in accordance with the latest international standards, maintaining the highest safety levels on site, and expressed appreciation for the work of petroleum industry employees in ensuring stable gas supplies to power stations and providing petroleum products to the local market.
