Italian oil and gas group Eni announced on Thursday a new natural gas discovery in a concession area of north of Egypt's western desert. The discovery well has been drilled on in the Faramid South exploration prospect located in East Obayed concession, 30 km North-West of the Melehia Concession. The well reached the target depth of 17,000 ft and encountered several gas bearing layers in the Kathabta sandstones of Jurassic age. The well has been opened to production delivering 25 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas, confirming the potential of the East Obayed Concession, the company said. "Eni has started the studies to develop these relevant gas reserves that, together with the gas potential of the Melehia Concession, can contribute to increase the country gas production from the Western Desert Basin." Eni statement read. Eni, through its operating company AGIBA, which is equally held by Eni subsidiary IEOC and the state-run Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), currently produces 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Egyptian western desert. AGIBA owns 100 percent stake of the East Obayed Concession.
