Baltim South West

Baltim South West Gas Field Profile

Location

The Baltim South West gas field is located in the Nile Delta, approximately 12 kilometers off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. It is situated within the Great Nooros area, which is a highly prospective gas production region, and lies about 10 kilometers south of the Nooros field.

Discovery and Appraisal

The Baltim South West field was discovered in June 2016 by Petrobel, a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Eni's subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC). The discovery well, Baltim South West 1X, was drilled to a depth of 3,750 meters and encountered approximately 120 meters of gross gas column in Messinian age sandstones. An appraisal well, Baltim South West 2X, was drilled in September 2016, which further confirmed the gas potential of the field.

Development and Production

The final investment decision (FID) for the Baltim South West project was made in January 2018. Production commenced in September 2019, just 19 months after the FID, marking one of the fastest gas development projects globally. The initial production rate is 100 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) from the BSW1 production well. The development plan includes drilling five additional production wells to increase the production to 500 MMcf/d by the second quarter of 2020.

Infrastructure

The field is developed with a 2,400-tonne offshore production platform situated in 23-meter-deep waters. The gas produced is transported to the existing Abu Madi gas plant through a new 44-kilometer-long, 26-inch-diameter pipeline.

Ownership and Operation

The field is operated by Petrobel on behalf of Medgas, a joint venture between Eni, BP, and EGPC. Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, and BP each hold a 50% stake in the contractor's share of the development lease.

Reserves

The Great Nooros area, where the Baltim South West field is located, is estimated to hold up to three trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas reserves. The Nooros field, located nearby, contains approximately 2 tcf of these reserves, while the Baltim South West field holds the remaining 1 tcf.

Market Impact

The production from the Baltim South West field contributes to Egypt's natural gas export capacity. Egypt, which became a net importer of natural gas in 2015, regained its status as a net exporter in 2019 due to the rapid development of fields like Zohr, Atoll, and West Nile Delta, as well as the Baltim South West field. The country's natural gas production increased significantly, with LNG exports expected to double by 2020.

Production Data

• Initial Production Rate: 100 MMcf/d
• Target Production Rate: 500 MMcf/d by the second quarter of 2020
• Condensate Production: Approximately 0.71 million barrels per year (as of 2019)
• Gas Production Design Capacity: 5.167 billion cubic meters per year (as of 2020).

This project is a significant addition to Egypt's energy landscape, enhancing the country's gas production and export capabilities.