New Gas Discovery in Egypt's Nile Delta to Add 50 MMcf/Day

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta, expected to deliver production rates of around 50 million cubic feet per day. 

The find follows the successful drilling of the exploratory well Nidoco N-2 within the concession area operated by Italy’s Eni in partnership with the UK’s bp.

The offshore well was drilled from an onshore location using advanced directional drilling technologies, a method that significantly reduces costs while improving operational efficiency. 

The well is located in the West Abu Madi area of Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, approximately three kilometers from the shoreline in shallow waters with a depth of around 10 meters.

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi inspected the EDC-56 drilling rig responsible for executing the well. During the visit, he emphasized that the discovery, alongside increased output from existing fields, reflects the sector’s progress in settling dues owed to foreign partners. The government aims to fully clear these payments by the end of June, a move intended to strengthen investor confidence and improve the business climate.

Badawi noted that regular payments have encouraged international partners to intensify exploration activities, ramp up drilling operations, and expand production. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to extend agreements for mature fields, enabling further development and attracting fresh investments to previously underutilized areas.

The proximity of the new well to existing infrastructure, less than two kilometers from the nearest production facilities, will allow for rapid connection to the national grid. Early production is expected to begin within the coming weeks, optimizing capital expenditure and accelerating returns.

According to the minister, the discovery demonstrates the strategic value of leveraging existing infrastructure to boost output and enhance domestic gas supply. It also underscores Eni’s continued success in exploration activities across its Egyptian concessions.

The West Abu Madi development area is operated by Eni in partnership with bp and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation through Petrobel, the joint venture between EGPC and Eni.