Italian energy company Eni has announced a gas discovery in the western desert in Egypt.

According to the Italian company, the discovery has been drilled at Faramind South, located in the East Obayed concession, 30 kilometres north-west of the Melehia Concession.

The exploration well reached a target depth of 17,000 ft and led to the discovery of several gas bearing layers in the Kathabta sandstones of the Jurassic age. The well has been opened for production, delivering 25 million metric standard cubic feet a day (mmscfd).

Eni said in a release statement that it had “started studies to develop these relevant gas reserves that, together with the gas potential of the Melehia Concession, can contribute to increase the country [Egypt] gas production from the Western Desert Basin.”

Agiba, which is equally owned by Eni subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC) and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), currently produces 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) from the Egyptian Western Desert and owns 100 per cent of the East Obayed concession.

Eni has been present in Egypt since 1954, operating through its subsidiary IEOC. The company is the country’s leading producer with equity of approximately 300,000 boe/d.

MEED reported in August that the Egyptian government had granted Eni a new exploration licence in the East Nile Delta Basin in the Mediterranean Sea.

The total concession area covers an area of 739 square kilometres (sq km), and water depths range between 50 and 400 metres. Eni says it plans to drill an exploration well in the second.

Eni also announced that Egyptian Authorities have authorised a new Nile Delta Concession Agreement, allowing a 10 year extension of the Abu Madi West Development Lease, where the Nooros field is located.