Shell Sees Encouraging Signs at Sirius-1X Exploration Well Offshore Egypt

The drilling results from Shell’s Sirius 1X exploratory well in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt have shown encouraging initial indications, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said in an update.

The well is operated by Shell and the results increase the chances of developing new gas resources from the Sirius reservoir, with the possibility of an early development decision during 2027.

The ministry said the well, which reached its target depth of 2,115 meters, is the first exploratory well drilled by Shell in 2026 as part of the company’s plan to expand gas exploration and production activities in its concession areas in Egypt’s Mediterranean waters.

Shell began its multi-well drilling program in the area with the MinaWest2 and Sirius wells in the Northeast Amreya area earlier in 2026, using Stena Drilling’s Stena IceMax drillship.

Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, earlier followed drilling operations in the area as part of ongoing efforts to increase domestic natural gas production.

Shell and its partner Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, working with the