Italian firm Eni’s highly anticipated Thuraya wildcat, located in the North East El Arish block (see map, MEES, 31 March) on the maritime border with Gaza is a flop, a source at Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum tells MEES. Eni confirms that while "we are still completing the data collection... at the moment the results are not positive." The result will come as a huge disappointment to Cairo which currently has a bare project pipeline and dwindling gas output which fell to 6.328bn cfd in January, although it will be buoyed by upcoming wildcats by key operators BP, Exxon and Shell (MEES, 24 March), as well as the news that deep-pocketed Emirati NOC Adnoc is looking to expand in the region (MEES, 31 March).
Next up for Eni offshore Egypt will be the Orion prospect on the North East Hap’y block, located to the west of North East El Arish, where the Italian firm (70%op) is partnered with Greek firm Energean (30%). Drilling had been planned for 1H 2023 but has now been delayed until 2H 2023 with the Saipem 10000 drillship potentially requiring maintenance following technical issues encountered at Thuraya. (CONTINUED - 297 WORDS)
