• Apache reports new onshore gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert

• Initial tests show output of about 26 million cubic feet per day

• Find adds to a string of recent discoveries in the region

U.S. energy company Apache has announced a new onshore gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert, reinforcing recent exploration momentum in the area. The announcement was made on March 24 by Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, following the drilling of the SKAL-1X exploration well in the South Kalabsha block.

“Initial tests of the well indicate daily production levels of about 26 million cubic feet of natural gas and 2,700 barrels of condensates,” the ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook, referring to early well test results.

The discovery was made in partnership with the state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), which collaborates with Apache on exploration and production activities. The well is located in an area awarded to Apache in August 2025, close to its existing operations.

According to the authorities, this proximity should help speed up development and integration into production, while offsetting natural declines in mature fields and limiting capital spending. No timeline for production has been announced.

The new find is part of a broader wave of discoveries in the Western Desert. In January 2026, Egypt’s petroleum ministry reported that four exploration wells had yielded combined output of about 4,500 barrels of oil per day and 2.6 million cubic feet of gas.

Those discoveries were led in part by Khalda Petroleum—a joint venture between EGPC and Apache—alongside other operators including Tharwa Petroleum and Borg El Arab Petroleum. The wells involved included Sultan S-1X RC, Alex NW-1X, and EAS Z-3.

Further discoveries were reported in February 2026, with initial tests indicating combined production of around 34 million cubic feet of gas and more than 5,200 barrels of oil and condensates per day, according to Egypt’s petroleum ministry, cited by Xinhua.

Abdel-Latif Boureima