Shell has completed exploratory drilling in the Herodotus Basin on Egypt’s western coast, where signs of oil have been detected. This region is primarily known for its gas fields, and previous attempts to find oil here have often been unsuccessful.

The drilling of the ultra-deep Velox-1X well in the North Cleopatra block began on May 23, using the Stena Icemax drilling vessel at a depth of 2,800 meters. The well reached a final depth of about 6,500 meters, making it the deepest ever drilled in the Mediterranean Sea. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum, the operation finished 10 days ahead of schedule and under budget.

The project yielded positive results, including the extraction of a crude oil sample. Currently, the collected data is being analyzed to determine the next steps, which may include drilling additional exploratory wells. A final assessment of the commercial potential of the field has not yet been completed.

Egypt’s western Mediterranean covers waters north of the oil-rich Western Desert and west of the gas-producing Nile Delta region. Despite accounting for 40% of Egypt’s exclusive economic zone, only four wells have been drilled in this area, compared to over a thousand in the country’s eastern waters.

In addition to Shell, other companies operating in the Herodotus Basin include Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and BP. Shell’s partners in the project are the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Chevron, the local company Tharwa Petroleum, and QatarEnergy, which is finalizing its entry into the project.

The Velox-1X well is located 90 kilometers offshore. Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum noted that the results obtained could mark the beginning of a new phase of oil exploration in the region.