Shell has commenced drilling operations for the first gas development and production well at the West Mina field in the Northeast El Amriya area of the Mediterranean Sea.

Production is expected to start by the end of the year, adding approximately 160 MMscf/d of gas and 1,900 barrels of condensate per day.

Shell plans to drill four wells this year, including “West Mina 1” and “West Mina 2” in Northeast El Amriya. Shell operates the block with a 60% stake alongside Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), which holds 40%. The two wells will be tied back to the existing West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) production facilities.

The program also includes drilling the “Sirius” exploration well to assess a gas reservoir in shallower waters in Northeast El Amriya, followed by the “Velox” well in the North Cleopatra area of the Herodotus Basin, aiming to unlock new gas discovery potential in the Mediterranean.