Badr El Din Petroleum Company (Bapetco) has announced the launch of Egypt’s first locally manufactured 17.5-inch drill bit as part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ (MoPMR) strategy to drive innovation in drilling and production, marking a significant milestone for the sector.

The drill bit, tailor-made for Bapetco and currently in the final stages of production, is expected to be completed within weeks.

The company also confirmed the successful testing of a rehabilitated drill bit in partnership with Tanmia Petroleum Company, demonstrating the efficiency and feasibility of using locally refurbished equipment in well drilling.

During a recent review meeting, company officials highlighted that local manufacturing and rehabilitation initiatives offer considerable economic and strategic advantages, including job creation, foreign currency savings, reduced imports, enhanced technological self-sufficiency, and a positive environmental impact through lower carbon emissions.

Bapetco unveiled a 3D simulation of the full-scale drill bit designed in the colours of the Egyptian National flag during the same meeting.

In May, Bapetco revealed it had drilled 13 new wells and repaired 39 wells in the Western Desert since the start of FY 2024/25, achieving production rates of 56,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), 190 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (mmcf/d), and 22,000 barrels of condensate.