Egypt has completed drilling the Simian DT natural gas well, the first well of the 9B phase in the West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) project, and added the new well to production at a capacity of 20 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d), Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The NGT-1 drilling rig has now been moved from the Simian well to start drilling at the Scarb DT well eight days ahead of schedule, saving $4 million.

The new drilling technology used at the Simian well will be used to drill all the eight wells in the 9B phase, which will save money and boost production of the 9B phase to 400 mmscf/d of natural gas and 3,000 barrels per day (b/d) of condensates, said Sabry El Sharawy, head of Rashid Petroleum Company (RAPETCO).