Egypt announces New Oil Discovery in Western Desert

Egypt announced on Friday a new petroleum discovery in the Western Desert region, which, officials estimate, could eventually yield up to 1,358 barrels of oil a day.

Taher al-Zafzaf, head of Egypt’s state-run General Petroleum Authority, said that excavation work had begun in the Western Desert’s Abu Senan region in late January.

“Electrical stability tests in Abu Senan have revealed the presence of hydrocarbon-rich layers,” he added.

Al-Zafzaf estimated the discovery’s recoverable reserves at 2.2 million barrels of crude oil and 11 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Egypt’s oilfields currently produce a total of 685,000 barrels of oil per day, according to official figures.

Of the country’s total petroleum production, the General Petroleum Authority produces some 46,000 barrels daily, mostly from concessions in the Suez Gulf.