Eni has discovered gas in the Nasim prospect in the Tiba concession in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore Egypt.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said initial results from the Nasim-1X well, drilled by Petrobel, indicated a near-200 bcf resource, with net gas pay of around 15 m.

Eni operates in partnership with Woodside Energy.

To speed up development of the discovery, the partners plan to tie the well into existing production facilities through a new 22-km pipeline connecting to the Abu Madi–El Gamil pipeline.

The development will produce gas for Egypt’s domestic market.

Minister Karim Badawi has also held talks recently with Ihab Toma, CEO of Eldorado Drilling, on opportunities for cooperation in offshore gas well drilling operations.

Eldorado would deploy its technological capabilities to support Egypt’s five-year targets for increasing oil and gas production.