Zohr natural gas field output increased to reach 700 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d) on April 23, according to Amwal Al Ghad.

The increase came after the linking of the first production line with 350 mscf/d capacity, a source revealed to the newspaper.

The source added that the second line will be operated during the first half of May 2018 with 350 mscf/d capacity, bringing the total production to around 1.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas.

Eni plans to drill three additional wells as part of the first phase of development at Zohr, an official at the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) previously told Al Shorouk Newspaper.

The decision means that a total of nine wells will be drilled during the first stage.

The extra wells come as part of a plan to increase gas production rates to over 700 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d) by May 2018 and 1.8 bcf/d by the end of 2018.