The petroleum sector is fast-tracking the deployment of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to unlock hard-to-reach oil and gas reserves and drive a significant increase in crude and natural gas production under the ministry’s five-year plan, said Karim Badawi, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Speaking during a meeting held to follow up on executive progress, Badawi stressed that while Egypt holds substantial petroleum potential, maximizing output requires localizing advanced technologies and creating effective economic mechanisms in partnership with major international drilling and technology service companies.
He added that the ministry is developing incentive models to ensure readiness for large-scale application of these technologies, paving the way for broader deployment across Egypt. He also praised the recent close coordination between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and global service providers to operationalize this approach.
During the meeting, attended by senior ministry officials and executives from international service and technology firms operating in Egypt, Salah Abdel Kerim, CEO of EGPC, highlighted promising opportunities for horizontal and lateral drilling in several conventional reservoirs, particularly in the Western Desert, Eastern Desert, Gulf of Suez, and Sinai.
He noted that horizontal drilling can significantly enhance well productivity compared to vertical wells in the same geological formations, while reducing the total number of wells needed to achieve targeted production levels.
Abdel Kerim also outlined the potential of unconventional reservoirs and ongoing work by EGPC’s Production Division, in cooperation with international service companies and production partners, to assess technical and economic requirements for implementation. He emphasized plans to expand hydraulic fracturing applications, pointing to the successful experience of Norpetco in the Western Desert as a model for future development.
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR) has unveiled a new five-year exploration and production plan (2026–2030) to achieve self-sufficiency in crude oil while boosting natural gas output and reversing recent declines in production. It focuses on increased cooperation with international oil companies, measures to limit import costs, and channeling local production into value-added industries and export markets, as part of broader efforts to enhance Egypt’s energy security and economic resilience.
