Prime Highlights
- Egypt discovered a new Nile Delta gas well expected to add 50 million cubic feet of daily production.
- The new field can begin output within weeks due to its closeness to existing infrastructure.
Key Facts
- Egypt currently produces about 4.2 billion cubic feet of gas daily against demand of 6.2 billion cubic feet.
- Eni and BP operate the concession area where the discovery was made.
Background
Egypt has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta that is expected to produce around 50 million cubic feet per day, offering fresh support to the country’s energy supply at a time of rising domestic demand.
The Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry said the discovery followed the successful drilling of the exploratory well named Nidoco N-2 in a concession operated by Italy’s Eni in partnership with Britain’s BP.
Officials said the well was drilled onshore using advanced directional drilling technology. The ministry noted that this method helped lower costs and improve efficiency during operations.
The government added that the site is located less than two kilometres from existing production facilities. This close distance will allow the new well to be connected quickly to the national network and begin early production within weeks.
The West Abu Madi development area is managed by Eni along with BP and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation through Petrobel, a joint venture between the state authority and Eni.
Egypt said domestic natural gas consumption stands at about 2.2 trillion cubic feet each year, equal to nearly 6 billion cubic feet per day. Current production is around 4.2 billion cubic feet daily, while total demand has reached about 6.2 billion cubic feet per day.
The demand might go up still higher in the peak season, reaching up to 7.2 billion cubic feet per day.
The nation relies largely on the Zohr gas field, which was found in 2015 and is the biggest in the Mediterranean region. The field contributes around one-fourth of Egypt’s gas production and holds estimated reserves of nearly 30 trillion cubic feet.
Official data showed Zohr output peaked in 2022 before declining steadily in recent years, making discoveries increasingly important for Egypt’s energy balance and future supply planning needs.
