• Four exploration wells showed commercially viable oil and gas flows

• Initial output reached about 4,500 barrels of oil and 2.6 million cubic feet of gas per day

• Discoveries support Egypt’s push to stabilize hydrocarbon production

Egypt has identified new commercially viable onshore hydrocarbon deposits in the Western Desert, several international media outlets reported on January 12, citing the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

According to the information released, the discoveries involve four exploration wells. Production tests conducted after drilling operations indicated combined flow rates of around 4,500 barrels of oil and 2.6 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. These initial production levels were described as encouraging and confirm the potential of the targeted structures.

The onshore drilling was carried out by Khalda Petroleum, a joint venture between the Egyptian state and U.S. group Apache, along with two Egyptian companies, Tharwa Petroleum and Borg El Arab Petroleum. The wells were drilled in geologically known areas, allowing for easier connection to existing infrastructure once the testing phase is completed.

The Western Desert has already drawn attention in recent months, notably with the Badr-15 discovery announced in November 2025. Located in the same region, that field also recorded positive initial test results and helped reinforce hydrocarbon output from mature fields already in production, in line with ongoing onshore operations.

The projects reflect a low-risk onshore exploration strategy focused on areas close to existing infrastructure, aimed at supporting national production and optimizing assets already in operation. While oil remains important for state revenues, the immediate priority is to offset the decline in gas production, which has recently turned Egypt into a net importer of natural gas.

Abdel-Latif Boureima