Danish engineering company, Subsea 7, was awarded a major contract to help BP develop three gas fields, including laying export lines, off the coast of Egypt – Giza, Fayoum, and Raven subsea fields offshore Alexandria, reported United Press International. This is the second phase of the West Nile Delta project, where the field development will be at depths of up to approximately 800 m.

The contract scope includes engineering, procurement, installation, and pre-commissioning of the subsea infrastructure from twelve wells, with 80 km of umbilicals and 220 km of pipelines. It also includes the installation of the export lines from the subsea location to the Idku terminal, reported World Oil.

The phases of offshore installation are twofold. The first stage, scheduled to begin in 2017, will comprise the landfall and shallow water pipelay, and the second stage, scheduled to begin in 2018, will involve the installation of deepwater pipelines and execution of the SURF scope.

BP said it will spend at least six years on exploration and production in the area. The company at one time produced almost 40 percent of the oil in Egypt through its regional partnerships and nearly 30 percent of total natural gas production.