Natural gas production at Egypt’s Zohr field has risen by 60 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) following the successful redrilling of the Zohr-6 well the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced on Friday.
The development represents a significant step forward in Egypt’s ongoing efforts to boost gas output and enhance energy security.
The deepwater redrilling operation was conducted using the Saipem 10,000 rig, which returned to the Zohr field in January under Egypt’s approved energy development roadmap.
With Zohr-6 completed, drilling activities have now commenced at Zohr-13, a well expected to contribute an additional 55 mmcfd upon completion.
The Ministry hailed the progress as evidence of Egypt’s determination to scale up production and reduce reliance on energy imports.
“These drilling operations show that we are on the right track in increasing production and making our energy system stronger,” the Ministry stated.
Egypt’s Zohr gas field
The Zohr field, located offshore the Eastern Mediterranean and operated by Italian energy giant Eni, is one of the largest gas discoveries in the region.
Eni brought Zohr on stream in less than two years after its discovery, a record achievement for a deepwater field of this size attributed to its Dual Exploration Model.
With an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, Zohr has played a pivotal role in Egypt’s ambition to establish itself as a regional energy hub.
However, output from the giant field and others has declined in recent years due to operational constraints amidst rising domestic demand.
Strengthening energy partnerships
The Ministry also emphasized the importance of its strategic alliance with Eni, highlighting ongoing collaboration to upgrade infrastructure and enhance gas output under previously agreed-upon development plans.
Officials affirmed the government’s full commitment to supporting the energy sector and attracting further investments to increase domestic production, ensure long-term sustainability, and meet growing demand.
Despite progress at Zohr, Egypt continues to grapple with serious energy challenges.
The country’s gas output dropped to a seven-year low in late 2024, pushing LNG exports to their lowest levels in years.
Current production stands at approximately 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, significantly below the estimated 6.2 billion cubic feet required to meet domestic needs.
Recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalation between Iran and Israel, disrupted gas supplies from Israel’s Leviathan and Karish fields, previously vital emergency sources for Egypt.
While supply is slowly recovering, the government has been forced to explore alternative options, including the use of fuel oil to bridge the gap during peak demand months like August.
In response to the crisis, Egypt launched an urgent appeal in May to international energy firms to ramp up domestic gas output.
This drew LNG export proposals from leading players such as Saudi Aramco, QatarEnergy, ADNOC, and Algeria’s Sonatrach.
Also in May, Canadian firm Borna Energy pledged $40m toward a new gas facility to capture and process flared natural gas, aiming to support Egypt’s goal of securing sustainable and diversified energy sources.
The renewed momentum at Zohr raises optimism as Egypt undertakes several measures to reverse the recent energy downturn and reclaim its place in the regional gas market.
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