GDF SUEZ (operator with a 50% share) announces with its partner Dana Petroleum (50%) a second discovery well named Papyrus, in the West El Burullus (WEB) production sharing contract area within the prolific Nile Delta region offshore in Egypt.

 This result follows the first gas discovery made in 2008 with the WEB-1X exploration well ; it confirms the exploration potential of the West El Burullus concession and reinforces GDF SUEZ’s position in Egypt as a successful exploration-production player.

The Papyrus well is located 15 km off the Alexandria coast and was drilled to a Total depth of 1,990 meters in shallow water (20 meters), targeting a prospect with good quality gas bearing sands. During the drill-stem tests, the Papyrus well delivered a peak flow rate of 33 million standard cubic feet per day of gas and 442 barrels of condensate per day.

A third prospect, Bamboo, located about 5 km from the discovery of WEB-1X, will be drilled soon. This deeper well will explore a new area and add further resources in case of success.