Belayim Petroleum Company (Petrobel) announced that it has successfully achieved a natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta concession area, and is working to start production at a rate of 20 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d), Al-Ahram reported.

A report presented to Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla, by Petrobel Chairman Atef Hassan showed the results of exploratory drilling in El Qaraa (North East 1), which started back in May.

Drilling the exploratory well, was carried out a minimum cost, and resulted in discovering natural gas reserves, with an initial estimated production rate of 17 mscf/d.

Petrobel is working to link the well to production facilities in the area, as well as the gas treatment plant in Abu Madi, in order to make the best use of the existing infrastructure and maximize the economic feasibility of the new discovery, and link it to the national natural gas grid.