Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced two new natural gas discoveries in the onshore Ghadames and Murzuq basins in the west of the country.

Sonatrach International Petroleum Exploration & Production Corporation (Sipex), the Libyan branch of Algeria’s state owned oil firm, made the first discovery in the Block-95/96 concession area in the Ghadmes basin. 

Sipex’s B1-95/02 well, located 800 kilometres southwest of Tripoli, tested a gas flow rate of 10 million cubic feet a day (cf/d). 

Sipex formed a consortium with Indian Oil Corporation and Oil India to sign a production-sharing agreement with NOC for Block 95/96 in mid-2008. This is the second discovery well in the concession.

Polish Oil & Gas (POGC) also made its first discovery in the Murzuq basin at its Block-113/1 concession area, 750km southwest of Tripoli. The A1/113/1 well tested a gas flow rate of 4 million cf/d.