An Oil Ministry report on the Alam El Shawish field in the Western Desert suggests that the concession has a production capacity of 20 mcf/d and preliminary estimated reserves of 500 bcf, Al Masry Al Youm reported. The well is operated by Royal Dutch Shell JV Badr El Din Petroleum. Production is expected to rise to 60 mcf/d when drilling is completed. The Oil Ministry report says the results have encouraged Shell to increase drilling rigs from two to four. Shell have agreed to drill nine discovery wells in 2017 that could be increased depending on seismic scans due in 1Q2017, the report adds. We had noted the discovery back in September, when Aidan Murphy, chairman and CEO of Shell Egypt, said then that it could be one of the biggest in the Western Desert. In other Shell-related news, Shell Oils grew its market share to 17% despite shutting down its gas stations, Managing Director Saher Hashem told Al Mal. Shell Oils also increased its production capacity by 25-30% in the last year, he added.