Royal Dutch Shell witnessed an increase in its natural gas output from Rashid and West Nile Delta Burullus fields in September to 290 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) from 220 mcf/d during August, a source in the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) said to Al Borsa newspaper.

The source added that the firm recently linked 80 mcf/d from the second well of the Burullus field (phase 9B) to the production, aiming to compensate the field’s natural depreciation as well as boost production.

EGAS’s source attributed the decline in the Rashid and Burullus fields’ productivity by nearly 10 mcf/d to the aging of the wells, in addition to a delay in the completion of the development plans, noting that the maximum production rate per well at Burullus field (phase 9B) is 100 mcf/d.

The source clarified that the project included eight production wells and two exploration wells, pointing out that phase 9B will be linked to the production in the coming fiscal year.

Shell aims to raise the production of Rashid and Burullus fields to 320 mcf/d by the end of the fiscal year, from 290 mcf/d in the current period, the source said.