Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced a series of new oil and gas discoveries in the Western Desert, in a move aimed at strengthening domestic energy production, offsetting natural declines in mature fields, and reducing the country’s import bill.
In a statement, the ministry said several petroleum sector companies operating in the Western Desert achieved new discoveries with a combined output exceeding 5,200 barrels per day of crude oil and condensates, along with approximately 34 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The discoveries form part of a broader strategy to enhance local production and improve energy security at a time when Egypt is working to balance rising domestic demand with efforts to optimize foreign currency spending on fuel imports.
Khalda Petroleum, one of the key operators in the region, reported two new gas discoveries. The first, North Obra-2, located in the Matrouh development area, had been previously announced and tested. According to the ministry, test results showed production rates of 21.15 million cubic feet of gas per day in addition to 3,274 barrels of condensates. The well is scheduled to be connected to production by mid-month.
The company also achieved a second discovery, West Dabaa-2X, in the West Dabaa concession area. Testing results indicated output of 4.15 million cubic feet of gas per day and 336 barrels of condensates. Procedures are currently underway to tie the well into the production network.
Meanwhile, the General Petroleum Company (GPC) announced a new oil discovery at the GPD-1X well in the Sinan development area. Test results showed a production rate of 625 barrels of oil per day, and the well has already been connected to production facilities.
Petro Farah, in partnership with United Energy, also reported a new oil discovery at the SEMR D-3X well. Preliminary test results revealed production of 647 barrels of oil per day. The well is expected to be connected to production following the signing of a development agreement.
In addition, Agiba Petroleum drilled the Nada-NE-4 well, with evaluation results described as positive. The well is expected to produce approximately 340 barrels of oil per day and 9 million cubic feet of gas per day once brought online.
The Western Desert remains one of Egypt’s most important hydrocarbon-producing regions, accounting for a significant share of the country’s crude oil and natural gas output. While many of its fields are mature, continued exploration and near-field drilling have enabled operators to unlock additional reserves and sustain production levels.
Officials say these latest discoveries will help mitigate the natural decline rates of older wells and support Egypt’s broader energy strategy, which includes expanding exploration, accelerating field development, and attracting further foreign investment into upstream activities.
The ministry has repeatedly emphasized the importance of fast-tracking the connection of new wells to existing infrastructure to maximize output and generate early returns. By leveraging established facilities in the Western Desert, companies can reduce development costs and shorten the time between discovery and production.
Energy analysts note that incremental additions of several thousand barrels per day, while modest compared to mega-field discoveries, play a crucial role in stabilizing national production levels. Combined with ongoing gas developments and efficiency measures, such discoveries could ease pressure on imports and improve Egypt’s energy balance over the coming months.
As Egypt continues to pursue its ambition of becoming a regional energy hub, sustained exploration success in established basins like the Western Desert is likely to remain a central pillar of its strategy.
