These finds are part of the Ministry's continuous efforts to reduce the burden of oil and gas imports on the Egyptian economy by increasing local production and adding new discoveries that contribute to lowering the import bill.
For the first time in two years, the onshore Nile Delta
region witnessed two new natural gas discoveries, reflecting the success of
policies to stimulate the necessary investment for increased exploration and
production, which forms the first pillar of the Ministry of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources' strategy.
The first discovery was made by the British company Harbour
Energy through the Desouq Petroleum Company, after drilling the North Sidi
Ghazi 9-1 well. The second discovery was made by the UAE's Dana Gas through the
Waset El-Beltum Petroleum Company in the West Al Qantara area from the Salma
Delta-6 well. Both are currently being placed on the production map with a
combined total of 19 million cubic feet of gas per day.
In the Western Desert, Khalda Petroleum Company achieved a
new set of discoveries, the latest being SHAI-3X and WD 33J-1X. These have been
put into production with a total output exceeding 3,550 barrels of crude oil
and 23 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Agiba Petroleum Company made the Durra-44 discovery with
production exceeding 500 barrels per day, while the General Petroleum Company
(GPC) achieved the GPU-1X discovery in the Abu Sennan area, which has been
placed on the production map at a rate of 350 barrels per day.
PetroSenan Petroleum Company made a new discovery in the
East Alam El Shawish area of the Western Desert with the HG34/1 D-1X well. This
discovery has been tied into production with a daily output of approximately
1,000 barrels of oil.
PetroBakar Petroleum Company and Cheiron Petroleum
Corporation achieved three discoveries in the Eastern Desert, South Ghazalat,
and North Um Baraka areas of the Western Desert. Reserves are currently being
evaluated and wells are being tested.
The discoveries in the Western Desert saw production from
new geological layers, which will encourage operating companies to test deeper
layers and utilize their resources. The application of Artificial Intelligence
technology also contributed to the success of some wells.
Since last July, 18 new oil and gas discoveries have been achieved, with 13 of them having been placed on the production map so far, at a daily rate of 14,000 barrels of oil and condensates and 44 million cubic feet of gas, contributing to savings on the import bill.