The development well Nidoco NW7 in Nooros gas field has begun production at 90m standard cubic feet per day (scf/day) of gas and 720 barrels of oil equivalent per day, The Ministry of Petroleum announced on Tuesday. The new production brings the field's number of operating wells to 13, with a total production of 1.15bn scf/day, which is the highest rate in the history of the Nile Delta region. Eni started production at its Nile Delta offshore field Nooros in September 2015 and has previously stated that it expects the field to reach a peak production capacity of 928m scf/day and about 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent in the first quarter of 2017. According to a report issued by Belayim Petroleum Company (Petrobel), which oversees the field's operations, Nooros is being developed through an intensive work plan and in accordance with a specific time programme to maximise production. The plan includes drilling a new well, increasing their number to 14 wells, and raising the production rate to 2.1bn scf/day. Earlier in February, Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla stated that Egypt's oil and gas industry has successfully added around 1.6bn scf/day of natural gas to Egypt's production, increasing the country's total natural gas production to 5.5bn scf/day and that it is expected to reach 6bn scf/day before the end of 2018.
