France’s Total Company is set to start drilling the first exploration well in North Mahalla onshore concession in the beginning of May 2017. Seismic scans of the concession indicate reserves of 3tcf to 5tcf of natural gas, Al Shourok stated.
In 2013 the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company ( EGAS) posed a tender to explore natural gas in seven different regions, including two regions in the Nile Delta and Five in marine areas, where total acquired its North Mahalla concession.
EGAS further intends to pose more tenders to explore natural gas to raise the national production rates. It is worth noting that Egypt is currently producing 4.45bcf/d of gas, where up to 300mcf/d are used to operate extraction equipment and the rest is pumped to the local market according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ data.
According to an earlier statement by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla the ministry decided to indefinitely postpone posing an international tender for exploring natural gas in Egypt.