US Apache, in collaboration with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), has made a new natural gas discovery in the Western Desert, following the drilling of the SKAL-1X exploratory well in the South Kalabsha area.
This, according to a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR), is part of ongoing efforts to stimulate investment, boost domestic natural gas production, and reduce the import bill.
Preliminary test results from the well show daily production rates of approximately 26 million cubic feet (mmcf) of natural gas and 2,700 barrels of condensate.
This discovery reflects the success of the incentives and measures implemented by the MoPMR, noted the statement, adding that these initiatives have played a key role in encouraging Apache to expand its exploration and prospecting activities and increase its investments, particularly in new areas adjacent to its existing concessions.
The discovery is located in one of the areas recently assigned to the company, in proximity to its current operations. This enhances investment feasibility and reduces costs by leveraging geographic proximity to existing infrastructure and production facilities. This approach, said the statement, is set to accelerate development operations and bring new discoveries onto the production map as quickly as possible. Moreover, it helps offset the natural decline in production from mature fields while reducing capital expenditures (CAPEX).
Apache, which has been present in Egypt since the mid-1990s, is a leading producer in the Western Desert through its joint venture with EGPC and Khalda Petroleum.
