Wintershall Dea has announced first gas from the ED2-X well in the East Damanhur block onshore Egypt. 

The German oil and gas company and its partners began exploring the East Damanhur block in the Nile Delta in 2021 and announced gas discovery earlier this year.

As the operator, Wintershall Dea owns a 40% stake in the licence.

Partners in the project include Egyptian Gas Holding Company (EGAS), INA, which owns a 20% stake, and Cheiron Energy, which owns a 40% share.

The ED-2X ST1 well is situated roughly 3km away from the Disouq field, where EGAS and Wintershall Dea are operating the DISOUCO JV and produce natural gas.

The well’s proximity to the Disouq field supported quick tie-back and gas production start, the company said.

Currently, production from the well stands at ten million standard cubic feet per day.

Wintershall Dea CEO and board member for the MENA region Dawn Summers said: “Bringing this well into production safely and efficiently enables us to deliver additional energy at a time when it is much needed in Egypt.” 

BU Egypt senior vice-president and managing director Sameh Sabry said: “We are committed to maintaining production levels while implementing emission reduction programmes in Egypt. By achieving zero routine flaring at the DISOUCO JV and now with the first gas for the ED-2X ST1 well at East Damanhur, we are delivering on both.”

Earlier this month, Wintershall Dea and Spain’s Repsol acquired a 11.25% stake in the licence for the Algeria-based North Reggane onshore gas project.

Currently, there are 19 productive wells in the North Reggane field, which produce roughly 2.8 billion cubic metres of gas per year.