Eni makes 15 Bcm Egypt find

Italy's Eni has discovered gas at the Nooros exploration prospect in the Abu Madi West license, in the Nile Delta, offshore Egypt.

Preliminary estimates of the discovery account for a potential of 15 Bcm of gas in place with upside, plus associated condensates.

The Nidoco NW2 Dir NFW well, which sits 120km northeast of Alexandria, reached 3600m total depth and encountered a 60m thick gas bearing sandstone interval of Messianian age with excellent petrophysical properties, further of other gas layers in the overlying Pliocene section.

The new discovery will be put into production in two months’ time through a tie-in to the existing Abu Madi gas treatment plant, located 25km south-east.

Eni says the discovery is the result of the "new Eni" strategy to re-focus its activity on near field and incremental exploration opportunities with high potential value, which allow in case of success their quick exploitation  through the already existing and synergic nearby infrastructures.

Eni, through its subsidiary Ieoc Production, holds a 75% of working interest in the West Abu Madi development lease, with BP as a partner with 25%. Petrobel, equally owned by Ieoc (50%) and EGPC (50%), is the operator of the concession.