Scarab

Profile for the Scarab and Saffron Gas Fields Project

The Scarab and Saffron gas fields are located in the West Delta Deep Marine concession, approximately 90 km from the Nile Delta shoreline in Egypt. The area is characterized by water depths ranging from 250 to 850 meters.

The project is owned by the Burullus Gas Company consortium, which includes:
- BG Group (operator) with a 25% stake
- Edison Co with a 50% stake
- Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) with a 25% stake.

The discovery of the Scarab and Saffron fields was made following a comprehensive seismic survey. Between 1995 and the late 1990s, 3,685 km² of 3D seismic and 4,900 km² of 2D seismic data were collected.
In June 1998, two successful exploration wells, Scarab-1 and Saffron-1, were completed. These wells tested gas flow rates of over 30 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) and 90 mmscfd, respectively, which were among the highest gas-flow rates recorded in Egypt at the time.
Two appraisal wells, Scarab-2 and Saffron-2, were drilled in June/July 1998 and March 1999, respectively.

The fields contain high-grade methane gas with very low levels of condensate and negligible amounts of hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide.
Estimated reserves exceed four trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas.

The development involves a long-distance subsea tieback to new onshore facilities located adjacent to the Rosetta onshore processing plant near Alexandria.
The initial phase includes eight subsea wells connected to two manifolds, which are tied back to the shore via 20-inch and 22-inch export lines.
A multiplexed electro-hydraulic control system and umbilicals control the wells from the shore.
Provisions are made for future expansion, including additional wells and manifolds, to maintain the plateau production profile. Onshore gas-compression facilities are also part of the plan.

Stolt Comex Seaway: Awarded a $145 million contract for the installation of the gas export pipelines, infield flowlines, and service lines. They also installed manifolds and well-control umbilicals using the pipelay barge LB200 and other vessels.
Nexans: Signed a €23 million contract for the supply of 100 km of umbilical cables to deliver power, water, and communications services to the subsea facilities.
Petrojet: Subcontracted for the shore approach work, using the Petrojet 11 and Petrojet 12 pipelay barges. They also installed a 300-ton manifold and carried out the concrete coating of the gas export pipelines.
Rosetti Marino: Involved in the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) scope for subsea templates and manifolds.
Enppi: Provided FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) support for pipeline, instrumentation, and offshore structures.

First gas production began in January 2003.
The daily contract quantity is 530 million standard cubic feet of gas per day over a period of at least 17 years.
The gas is supplied to the Elng Idco LNG Terminal.
The onshore processing plant is designed to deliver up to 600 million standard cubic feet per day of gas and 3,000 barrels per day of condensate. Treated gas is exported via a new pipeline and metered at the tie-in to the Egyptian National Transmission System.

1995: Concession agreement finalized.
1998: Successful exploration and appraisal wells completed.
1999: Project go-ahead given following a sales agreement with EGPC.
2001: Shore approach work began in the fourth quarter.
2002: Gas export pipelay and deep-water works started in the second quarter.
2003: First gas production commenced.

This project represents the first deepwater development in the Eastern Mediterranean and is the largest gas field development in Egypt.