Eni makes new oil discovery in Egyptian Western Desert

Italian exploration and production firm Eni has made a second light oil discovery in the Faghur Basin in the Egyptian Western Desert.

The company carried out drilling on the B1-X exploration prospect in the South West Meleiha licence, around 130km north of the oasis of Siwa.

The SWM B1-X well was drilled 7km away from the first discovery (SWM A2-X) to explore the deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin.

Drilled to a total depth of 4,523m, SWM B1-X encountered 35m net of light oil in the Paleozoic sandstones of Dessouky Formation of Carboniferous age and in the Alam El Bueib sandstones of Cretaceous Age.

Eni has opened the well to production in the Dessouky sandstones, which delivered 5,130 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of light oil (37° API) with low associated gas.

In a statement, Eni said: “The discovery on B-1X confirms the high exploration and production potential of deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin.”

“Eni plans, in the near term, the drilling of other exploratory prospects located nearby the A2-X and B-1X discoveries to consolidate what can result as a new productive area for Eni in Egypt.”

According to the company, the production will be routed to existing infrastructures before being shipped to El Hamra Terminal through existing pipelines, subject to receipt of Development Plan approval from the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

Eni owns a 100% stake in South West Meleiha licence through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC).