BG Egypt Begins Gas Production at WDDM Phase V

BG Egypt, a subsidiary of BG Group, said on Tuesday it started gas production at Phase V of its West Delta Deep Marine Concession (WDDM).

Egypt's largest natural gas producer said the project aimed to maintain plateau production for BG Egypt at 2.4 billion cubic feet per day.

"This project is part of the continued successful development of the West Delta Deep Marine concession. This is being managed in a sustained manner to meet domestic and export commitments," Tim Blackford, president of BG Egypt, said in an e-mailed statement.

The project was being managed by joint operating company Burullus Gas.

Phase V WDDM began in December 2007 when the state Egyptian Petroleum Company awarded the contract to BG Egypt. First gas from the project was scheduled for delivery in 2009. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan; editing by Anthony Barker).