Fossil Energy – Egypt
Initial drilling results from the Sirius-1X exploration well in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt have shown encouraging indications of potential gas resources, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
The well, operated by Shell, has reached its target depth of 2,115 meters and represents the company’s first exploratory well drilled in Egypt in 2026. Early findings from the well increase the likelihood of developing new gas resources from the Sirius reservoir, with the potential for an early development decision as soon as 2027.
The Sirius-1X well forms part of Shell’s broader strategy to expand gas exploration and production activities across its concession areas in Egypt’s Mediterranean waters.
Earlier in 2026, Shell launched its multi-well drilling campaign in the Northeast Amreya area, beginning with the MinaWest2 and Sirius wells. The program is being carried out using the Stena IceMax drillship, operated by Stena Drilling.
Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, has been closely monitoring the drilling operations as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to increase domestic natural gas production and strengthen the country’s energy security.
The promising initial results from Sirius-1X highlight the continued potential of Egypt’s offshore Mediterranean gas resources and reinforce the importance of ongoing exploration activities in the region.
