It’s second time lucky for Shell at the North East El Amriya block offshore Egypt. The Anglo-Dutch major failed to snag the block following 2018 bidding, losing out to US major ExxonMobil which was making its first foray into Egypt’s upstream (MEES, 15 February 2019). Fast forward three years and Exxon has had a change of heart, with Shell still eager for the acreage that surrounds its West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) project (see map).