New Western Desert Gas Discovery Holds 330 Billion Cubic Feet

A new natural gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert is estimated to contain around 330 billion cubic feet of gas alongside approximately 10 million barrels of condensates and crude oil.

The discovery was made through the Bustan South 1X exploration well operated by Agiba Petroleum Company, a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Italian energy company Eni.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the discovery represents Agiba Petroleum’s largest find in the Western Desert in 15 years, with total estimated reserves reaching around 70 million barrels of oil equivalent.

The Bustan South 1X well was drilled using the Egyptian Drilling Company’s EDC 9 rig. The ministry stated that the well encountered multiple reservoir intervals in sandstone and limestone formations with a combined net pay thickness of around 400 feet.

The discovery site is located approximately 10 kilometres from existing processing facilities and pipeline infrastructure, which could support a future tie-in to current production networks.

Officials said the results reinforce the potential for continued exploration activity in areas surrounding existing producing fields within the Western Desert concessions.

Agiba Petroleum operates the concession as a partnership between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Eni.