The North Idku gas field is divided into Block A and B, which is located in the Mediterranean Sea about 19 miles (30 kilometers) east of Alexandria, Egypt. The field is situated in water depths of 197 to 1,476 feet (60 to 450 meters), and is wholly owned and operated by RWE Dea.

In 2006, the gas field was discovered by four exploration wells in the Nile Delta. Shortly after discovering the field, RWE Dea signed a long-term gas sales agreement with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company for delivery of gas to the Egyptian market. Once the agreement was finalized in 2008, RWE Dea announced the field as commercially viable and began planning the first phase of development of the North Idku gas field.

Field Development

The first phase of development consists of four subsea wells tied-back via a 10-inch-diameter gas flowline to two unmanned platforms, a five-slot central platform, NI-P1, and a three-slot platform NI-P2. Then, gas will be exported from the platforms to an onshore processing facility, WEPCO Meadia Gas Plant, via a 16-inch-diameter pipeline.

In April 2009, RWE Dea began using the Atwood Aurora jackup for its North Idku development program. Currently, the development program calls for four wells to be drilled, and drilling is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009.

Suez Oil Company, a 50/50 joint venture between RWE Dea and EGPC, is conducting the development and production for the first phase of development on the North Idku field. Production is expected to commence in 2010.