The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that Italy’s energy giant Eni has discovered new oil and gas resources in the Meleiha and South West Meleiha concessions, in the Western Desert of Egypt.

“The discoveries in the Meleiha development lease were achieved through the Jasmine W-1X and MWD-21 wells, while in South West Meleiha exploration concession the discovery was made through SWM-4X well, located 35 km south from the Meleiha oil center,” Eni said in a company statement.

With regards to the Jasmine W-1X well, it encountered 113 feet of net hydrocarbon pay in the Khatatba formation’s Jurassic sandstones. Moreover, the production test indicated a promising production rate of 2,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of light oil (49°API) and 7 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of associated gas. With a stabilized production rate of 2,500 bbl/d, Jasmine MWD-21 well encountered 51 feet of net oil column in Cretaceous sandstones of the Alam El Bueib formation.

Turning to South West Meleiha, the SWM-4X well encountered 36 feet of net oil sand in the Bahariya formation’s Cretaceous sandstones. The production test indicated an initial rate of 1,800 bbl/d with 0.3 mmscf/d.

According to the company’s press release, the new discoveries should add more than 6,000 barrels of equivalent oil per day (boe/d) to its gross production. In addition, these new discoveries have potential for additional appraisal. Production wells will be immediately planned in order to sustain the Agiba production plateau.

It should be noted that Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 76% of contractor’s participating interest in the Meleiha concession while LUKOIL holds the remaining 24%. Both companies are parties in this concession with EGPC and the Government of Egypt. In the South West Meleiha concession, Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 100% of contractor’s participating interest. IEOC, EGPC and the Government of Egypt participate in the concession as parties.