Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry announced today that work has begun on three new production wells at the offshore Zohr gas field, aiming to bolster the field’s output and shore up domestic energy supplies in the current fiscal year.
One of these boreholes, dubbed Zohr-6, has already started delivering roughly 65 million cubic feet of gas per day to Egypt’s grid, the ministry said. Drilling activities resumed in February after a months-long production slowdown tied to overdue payments to foreign partners, underscoring Cairo’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations and reviving capacity at the Mediterranean’s largest gas discovery.
Discovered in 2015 by Eni and brought into service in late 2017, Zohr once produced as much as 3.2 billion cubic feet per day at its 2019 peak. However, by early 2024 output had fallen to around 1.9 billion cubic feet per day amid reservoir pressure declines and operational constraints.
The field is operated by Petrobel, a joint venture split evenly between Italy’s Eni and the state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). Alongside drilling new wells, Petrobel has invested in enhanced well-completion techniques and pressure-management programs to stabilize production rates across the Zohr concession.
For Egypt’s government, restoring and expanding Zohr’s output carries significant economic and geopolitical benefits. Domestically, higher gas volumes ease strain on power generation and desalination plants, while boosting exports via the nation’s existing liquefied natural gas terminals supports revenues and strengthens ties with European buyers seeking alternatives to Russian pipeline supplies.
Analysts expect the three new wells to collectively contribute an additional 150 to 200 million cubic feet per day by mid-2026, provided subsurface conditions align with projections. That uplift should help Egypt approach its pre-crisis targets of 2.7 billion cubic feet per day from Zohr, relieving pressure on national budgets and attracting further foreign investment into the upstream sector.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to accelerate approvals for complementary projects around Zohr, including tie-ins for satellite discoveries and infrastructure upgrades. Successful ramp-up of these three wells will be closely watched by international energy firms evaluating Egypt as a stable hub for Eastern Mediterranean gas development.
