bp has made a new natural gas discovery offshore Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean following the successful drilling of the Denise W-1 exploration well in the Temsah concession.
The well is located around 70km offshore in depths of up to 95 metres and less than 10km from existing infrastructure, a proximity expected to accelerate development timelines.
The discovery comprises high-quality gas-bearing sandstone with a total thickness of around 90 metres and shares reservoir characteristics with the nearby Temsah and Akhen fields, which have been in production since 2001.
The drilling follows a framework agreement signed in July 2025 between bp, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company to renew the Temsah concession for 20 years.
bp holds a 50% stake in the concession alongside Eni, which operates the Denise development lease through Petrobel, a joint venture with EGPC.
Earlier this year, bp secured two additional offshore exploration concessions in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the North-East El Alamein block, where it holds a 100% stake, and the West El Hammad block, where it holds 25% alongside Eni, which acts as operator with a 75% interest.
Both blocks are located near existing infrastructure, supporting a fast-track approach to development.
Last month, bp deployed the drillship DS-12 to undertake five confirmatory wells and three optional wells as part of efforts to increase domestic gas production and meet Egypt’s growing energy demand.
The company has also expanded into new frontier areas, signing an agreement with the South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company for exploration in Block 6 in the Red Sea.
bp has operated in Egypt for more than 63 years and continues to invest in exploration and development through partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s energy sector.
Separately, Eni recently announced a significant gas and condensate discovery at the same Denise W-1 well, with preliminary estimates indicating around 2 trillion cubic feet of gas initially in place and 130,000 barrels of associated condensates.