Eni discovers gas at Nooros exploration area in Nile Delta, Egypt

Italian energy giant Eni has discovered gas reserve from the Nooros exploration prospect in Egypt, which is located in the Madi West license area in the Nile Delta.

Located at a 120km distance from Alexandria, the site is expected to have a potential for 15 billion m³ of natural gas and associated condensates reserves, according to preliminary estimates.

Eni had conducted drilling at the site to a depth of 3,600m through the Nidoco NW2 Dir NFW well.

While drilling, the well had revealed a 60 meters thick gas bearing sandstone interval of Messianian age with petrophysical properties, further of other gas layers in the overlying Pliocene section.

The gas well is expected to start production in two months, when Eni will arrange a tie-in for it with the existing Abu Madi gas treatment facility, located to the south-east of the site at a 25km distance.

The gas discovery is in line with the firm’s strategy to re-focus on near field and incremental exploration scope for quick exploitation through the present infrastructures.

Eni is the majority stakeholder for the West Abu Madi development with 75% interest owned by its subsidiary Ieoc Production. UK based BP owns the remaining 25%.

The concession is operated by Petrobel, which is jointly owned by Ieoc and Egyptian General Petroleum (EGPC) with a 50:50 share.

Since 1954, Eni is the chief hydrocarbon producer in Egypt where it operates through Ieoc and maintains a daily capacity for 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent.