The first two wells from Phase 9B of Egypt’s West Delta Deep Marine concession (WDDM) are expected to come online in October 2018, Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla has said, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The remaining wells in the concession will be added to production consecutively during 2019 in order to reach the project’s maximum capacity, El Molla explained.

It is expected that the concession will produce around 400 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d) of crude and 3,000 barrels per day (b/d) of condensates when running at maximum capacity.

A total of 10 wells will need to be drilled at a cost of $740 million in order to reach maximum production rates.

The minister made the announcement during the general assembly to review the performances of the the Rosetta and Burullus gas companies in fiscal year (FY) 2017/18.

Hesham El Attar, head of both companies, told El Molla that the companies had drilled the first three wells at the 9B phase in FY 2017/18.

The two companies are now in the process of obtaining a new rig that will enable faster drilling in the Burullus region.