Eni starts production from Meleiha, announces new discoveries

CAIRO – 25 July 2019:The Italian Oil Company Eni announced Tuesday the start of production from South West Meleiha Development Lease, located in the Egyptian Western Desert, some 130 Km North of the oasis of Siwa.

The company clarified that the current production at Meleiha, discovered in 2018, is at around 5.000 barrel of oil per day (BOPD) and is expected to reach 7.000 BOPD within September 2019.

Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 50 percent interest in South West Meleiha, while the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) holds the remaining 50 percent, and AGIBA is the operator.

“AGIBA and Eni also recently made two additional near field oil discoveries in the Meleiha development lease in the Western Desert, specifically on the Basma and Shemy prospects,” Eni stated, clarifying that on Basma, two wells have been successfully drilled and are already in production from the Jurassic Khatabta formation, while on Shemy prospect a well is currently under testing, targeting oil from the Matruh sands.

Moreover, Eni drilled and tested the El Qar’a-NE1 well in the Nile Delta area. “This well found gas in the sandstones of the Abu Madi formation. During the clean-up, the well delivered 17 MMscfd and associated condensates. The well will be tied-in to existing facilities and the production will be delivered to the Abu Madi gas plant operated by Petrobel (Ieoc 50% - EGPC 50%) upon the granting of the development lease.”

Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 37.50 percent interest in El Qar’a exploration lease, while BP holds a 12.5 percent interest and EGPC holds a 50 percent interest. Petrobel is the operator of the lease on behalf of EGPC and Eni.

In the Gulf of Suez, an oil discovery has been made in the Abu RudeisSidri development lease, which isequally held by IEOC and EGPC.

“The discovery may hold up to 200 MMbbl of oil in place. The well has been completed and brought on stream through production facilities available in the area. Petrobel has a plan to develop the new discovery with about 10 wells that will be drilled in the near future,” it stated.