CAIRO, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell, Eni, BP andExxon Mobil were among winners of Egypt's international tenderfor oil and gas exploration on Tuesday, with 12 concessionsawarded in total.
It marks Exxon Mobil's entry into gas exploration inEgypt, while Shell was awarded the most concessions inthe tender - three for oil and two for gas.
Neptune Energy, Merlon, Shell, Eni and state-controlledEgyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) were awarded sevenoil exploration concessions in total in which 39 wells will bedrilled, Egypt's petroleum ministry said in a statement.
Egypt has in recent years reached maritime demarcationagreements with several countries in the region in a pushtowards increased oil and gas exploration.
Egypt expects investments of at least $750 million to $800million in the first stage of exploration in the 12 concessions,Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla told a press conference.
EGPC's tender included areas in the Western Desert, the NileValley, the Gulf of Suez and the Eastern Desert.
Five gas exploration concessions were awarded - in which 20wells will be drilled - to Shell, Exxon, Petronas, BP,DEA and Eni, the head of Egypt's state gas board said.
Eni's discovery of the giant gas field Zohr in 2015, thelargest in the Mediterranean and estimated to hold about 30trillion cubic feet of gas, has raised interest in gasexploration in Egypt.
The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Corporation's bid round,which was the largest in its history, included border areas inthe Mediterranean Sea as well as land areas in the Nile Delta.(Reporting by Ahmed Ismail; Writing by Eric Knecht, NadineAwadalla and Yousef Saba; Editing by Catherine Evans and SusanFenton)