Shell Egypt marks arrival of Stena IceMAX drillship to support 2026 Mediterranean drilling campaign
Shell Egypt announced the arrival of the Stena IceMAX drillship in the Mediterranean Sea, marking a key operational milestone in the company’s 2026 offshore drilling campaign and its continued investment in Egypt’s upstream gas sector.
Cairo, Egypt – 12 February 2026: Shell Egypt announced the arrival of the Stena IceMAX drillship in the Mediterranean Sea, marking a key operational milestone in the company’s 2026 offshore drilling campaign and its continued investment in Egypt’s upstream gas sector.
The Stena IceMAX, a sixth-generation deepwater drillship operated by Stena Drilling, started to execute a multi-well programme offshore Egypt, beginning with the Mina West development wells, and Sirius exploration followed by the Velox exploration well.
The drillship represents one of the most advanced offshore drilling units operating in the region and reflects the scale and technical depth of current offshore activities in the Mediterranean.
The campaign supports the development of the Mina West discovery in the North East El Amriya concession, which is being progressed as a subsea tie-back to existing infrastructure. The Sirius well will evaluate a shallower play in the North East El Amirya concession to support the acceleration of the near-field exploration opportunities. The Velox well will be drilled as part of Shell’s frontier exploration activities in the North Cleopatra area "of the Herodotus basin".
Dalia Elgabry, Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Egypt, said: “This is a crucial operational milestone for Shell in Egypt and for the country’s energy sector. The arrival of Stena IceMAX enables the next phase of our drilling campaign in the Mediterranean, supporting the advancement of Mina West and our wider exploration portfolio. These activities align with Egypt’s strategic ambitions as a regional energy hub and allows the responsible development of its natural gas resources. Shell remains committed to working with our partners and the Government of Egypt to deliver safe, efficient, and value-driven upstream projects.”
Shell together with its partners continue to expand offshore exploration and development activities in Egypt, focusing on near-infrastructure opportunities and high-potential frontier plays that contribute to domestic energy supply and long-term sector development.