BP and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS) have sanctioned the development of the Atoll Phase One project.

The development is an early production scheme (EPS) that will bring up to 300 MMcf/d of gas to the Egyptian domestic gas market starting in first-half 2018.

The project involves the recompletion of the existing exploration well as a producing well, the drilling of two additional wells and the installation of the necessary tie-ins and facilities.

The Atoll wells will be drilled by the DS-6 rig, which arrived in Egypt in May and is expected to start drilling in August for roughly the next 24 months. Success of the Atoll Phase One EPS could lead to further investment in the Atoll Phase Two full field development.

BP announced the Atoll discovery in March 2015. The Atoll-1 deepwater exploration discovery well in the North Damietta Offshore concession in East Nile Delta was drilled using the 6th generation semisubmersible rig Maersk Discoverer. The exploration well reached a depth of 6,400 m and penetrated about 50 m of gas pay in high-quality sandstones. BP has a 100% interest in the concession.

BP recently completed multiple transportation and processing agreements accelerating the development of the Atoll Field, which contains an estimated 1.5 Tcf of gas and 31 MMbbl of condensate. Onshore processing will be handled by the existing West Harbour gas processing facilities.