Egypt targets output boost from Western Desert drilling projects

The government of Egypt is stepping up efforts to boost domestic hydrocarbons output, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources targeting completion of the North Lotus Deep 2 well in the Western Desert by the end of May, according to Al Masry Al Youm.

The well, located in the Melehia concession operated by Agiba Petroleum, is expected to produce about 1,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude alongside roughly 2mn cubic feet (mmcf), equivalent to about 0.057mn cubic metres (mcm), of gas per day.

Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi visited the EDC-73 rig, operated by Egyptian Drilling Company, as part of wider efforts to raise output ahead of peak summer demand.

Badawi also confirmed progress on the second phase of the Melehia gas processing plant expansion, being executed with Petrojet and SLB.

The upgraded facility will have a processing capacity of 100mn cubic feet per day (mmcf/d), equivalent to about 2.83mn cubic metres per day (mcmd), more than triple the first phase, and is expected to lift Agiba’s total output to around 125mn cubic feet per day (mmcfd), or roughly 3.54mn cubic metres per day (mcmd), by the FY2026/27.

Separately, drilling at the Garden-2 well is nearing completion, with initial production expected within weeks, supporting Egypt’s strategy to reduce reliance on gas imports and stabilise domestic supply.