The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources aims to increase natural gas production to 6.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) by mid-2018, Al Borsa reports.

The ministry plans to add 750 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) from  the Zohr field and 100 mcf/d from the Nooros field to current production, which stands at 5.5 bcf/d, sources at the ministry said.

Experimental operations are set to begin at the Zohr field this week, they added.

The ministry has already begun testing the pipes and the onshore treatment plant, Egypt Oil & Gas previously reported.

The field is expected to come online this month with an initial rate of production of 350 mcf/d.