The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and global energy company Chevron have announced positive results from drilling the Nargis-2 natural gas well in the Mediterranean Sea. Drilling began in May through a partnership involving Chevron, its partners and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS).
The results support ongoing appraisal of the Nargis discovery, made in 2022, and efforts to accelerate its commercial development. They confirm the extension of gas-bearing layers previously identified in the Nargis-1 well, alongside the identification of an additional gas-bearing layer with favourable characteristics, providing a basis for further assessment of the area’s resources and development potential.
The well was drilled to assess the extent of the Nargis discovery and test deeper geological formations, as part of broader efforts to expand exploration in the Mediterranean, including in formations characterised by high pressure and high temperature.
The well reached a final depth of more than 5,000 metres. Evaluation results identified gas-bearing layers with a net thickness of up to 35 metres, supporting further technical studies to determine the discovery’s overall potential and assess its development prospects.
The results form part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ strategy to accelerate the development of undeveloped discoveries, encourage investment partners to intensify exploration and convert discovered resources into reserves that can be developed and brought into production, supporting growth in domestic natural gas output.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi attended the start of drilling operations at Nargis-2 last May aboard the Stena Forth drilling vessel. He stressed the importance of accelerating the appraisal and development of undeveloped gas discoveries and strengthening cooperation with global energy companies to capitalise on Egypt’s oil and gas potential.
Chevron operates the Nargis concession in partnership with Italy’s Eni, the UAE’s Mubadala and Egypt’s Tharwa Petroleum.