On the 23rd of June, first gas from the $334 million Seth development commenced approximately 18 months from project sanction, which is 15 weeks ahead of schedule.

Seth field is located 60km offshore in the Ras El Bar concession in the East Nile Delta Mediterranean, close to existing producing Ha'pyand Denise fields. Seth is being developed with a 6 well slot, normally unmanned platform with gas being exported via the Denise (Pliocene) pipeline to El Gamil gas terminal near Port Said. The first two wells accessing the western part of the Seth reservoir are expected to reach 170 mmscfd and develop about 240 bcf of gas.

"Seth is yet another example of BP’s 50 years of commitment to Egypt and longstanding partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum, EGPC, and EGAS. We look forward to continuing to play a key role in the development of Egypt’s energy sector in order to help meet Egypt's growing energy demands for years to come," said Hesham Mekawi, Regional President, BP Egypt.

“The success of the Seth project has led us to accelerate its Phase 2 development to access gas in the eastern part of the field through an additional two platform wells, which are planned to be on production by the end of 2012, increasing Seth offtake to in excess of 250 mmscfd,” added Mekawi.

• BP has a long and successful track record in Egypt stretching back nearly 50 years with investments exceeding $17 billion, making BP one of the largest foreign investors in the country. In Egypt, our business is primarily in oil and gas exploration and production.

• To date, BP Egypt, in collaboration with the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO), BP’s joint venture (JV) Company with the Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC), has been responsible for the production of almost 40% of Egypt’s entire oil production, and currently produces almost 15% of Egypt’s entire oil production.

In addition, through BP’s second JV with EGPC / EGAS, the Pharaonic Petroleum Company (PhPC), and together with our partners, BP currently produces almost 40% of Egypt's total domestic gas demand.BP is working to meet Egypt’s domestic market growth by actively exploring in the Nile Delta and investing to add production from existing discoveriesBP is developing the West Nile Delta (WND) project - a strategic project that will supply critical gas to the domestic market

Further information:Name: BP Egypt officePhone : +202 2519 9915

Name: BP London press officePhone : +44 20 7496 4076Email: bppress@bp.com