BP Egypt has started drilling the Atoll-1 well offshore, which is the second exploration well in the North Demietta Offshore concession discovered by the firm last year.

The deepwater exploration well will be drilled using the sixth generation rig ‘Maersk Discoverer’ at water depth of 923 metres and reaching a total depth of around 7400 metres targeting Oligecene Channels, said a statement.

The well spudded on September 12 and the drilling is expected to last into next summer, it said.

Hesham Mekawi, BP North Africa regional president, said: “The significant investment in Atoll-1 is another great example that demonstrates our commitment to meeting Egypt’s energy needs by exploring the deep offshore potential of the Nile Delta, which we believe to be a world class gas basin that requires substantial investments to unlock its potentials.

“We look forward to continuing to play a key role in the development of Egypt’s energy sector and maximising the use of our existing resources to help meet the country's growing energy demands for years to come.”

Atoll-1 is a high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) well located north of Damietta city, said the statement.

BP has 100 per cent working interest in this well. Atoll - 1 well is named after a coral reef, sometimes called a coral atoll, which is a ring-shaped coral reef, it added. - TradeArabia News Service