Eni announces new Egyptian production

Eni has announced first production from the South West Meleiha development lease, located in the Egyptian Western Desert. Current production of 5,000 b/d of oil from two wells is expected to reach 7,000 b/d by September 2019. The oil is transported and treated at the Meleiha plant facilities operated by AGIBA, a joint venture between IEOC and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).

Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 50% interest in South West Meleiha, while the EGPC  holds the remaining 50%. AGIBA is the operator.

Two additional near field oil discoveries have also been made on the Basma and Shemy prospects in the Meleiha development lease. Two wells have been successfully drilled on Basma, and are already in production. A well is currently under testing on the Shemy prospect.

Meanwhile, in the Nile Delta area, within the new El Qar’a onshore exploration lease granted in 2018, Eni has successfully drilled and tested the El Qar’a-NE1 well. The well will be tied-in to existing facilities, with production delivered to the Abu Madi gas plant operated by Petrobel (IEOC 50%, EGPC 50%) upon granting of the development lease.

Finally, in the Gulf of Suez, in the Abu Rudeis Sidri development lease (equally held by IEOC and EGPC), IEOC, through Petrobel, has successfully drilled a new structure on the Sidri South exploration prospect which resulted in an oil discovery. The find may hold up to 200mn barrels of oil in place and has been brought onstream through nearby production facilities. Petrobel has a plan to develop the new discovery with about 10 wells that will be drilled in the near future.