Eni Makes Gas Discovery Off Libya, Shell Confirms Commitment to Egypt’s Shale

Egypt and Libya continue to make headlines as European companies confirm their commitment to exploration and production in the region. 

Eni made a new discovery of gas and condensates offshore Libya, in the Bouri North exploration prospect in Area D, 140 kilometers from the coast and 20 kilometers north of the production field of Bouri, while Shell will reportedly start shale gas production from the Apollonia field in the Western Desert in May 2016.  

Earlier this month, the company announced a discovery of gas and condensates offshore Libya in the Bahr Essalam South exploration prospect in Area D.

LIBYA

The one announced on Tuesday is the second discovery in Libyan offshore Area D reported by the Italian company since the beginning of 2015 on Tuesday. Eni holds 100% working interest in the exploration phase.

‘During the production test, constrained by surface facilities, the well flowed 1,340  Boepd  with a “64/64‘ choke size. In production configuration, the well is estimated to deliver in excess of 3,000 Boepd’ reads a note released on Tuesday.

EGYPT

Meanwhile, Egypt is stepping up efforts to increase domestic production.

According to Reuters, Cairo said on Tuesday that it extended its tender for natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea by two months with the addition of four new blocks.

On Saturday, Daily News Egypt wrote that Royal Dutch Shell and US-headquartered Apache are working on shale formations in the Apollonia field in the Western Desert. The article says that gas production should start in eight months, but doubts remain as drilling operations did not start yet. 

Last week, BP increased its stake in the West Nile Delta (WND) project in Egypt, buying 17.75% of in the ongoing Phase 1 from DEA.

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