Italy’s ENI Ramps-Up Production Capacity at Egypt’s Zohr Gas Field

Italian energy major ENI announced on May 10 the start-up of the third production unit (T-2) of the Zohr project, increasing the installed capacity to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd).

According to ENI, Zohr is now producing 1.1 bcfd in ramp-up, equivalent to approximately 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boed), of which 75,000 boed net to ENI is at current the working interest. This result has been achieved only a few months after the field’s start-up in December 2017.

The third unit, which came just a week after the second unit’s successful power-up, confirms the programme pursued by ENI, its co-venturers and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to pursue a production level of 2 bcfd by the end 2018, followed by a plateau of 2.7 bcfd in 2019.

"The latest achievement reinforces the exceptional development path of Zohr, one of ENI’s seven record-breaking projects, which is playing a fundamental role in supporting Egypt’s independence from LNG (liquefied natural gas) imports,” ENI said in a press release.

The Zohr field, the largest gas discovery ever made in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Sea with more than 30 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas in place, is located within the offshore Shorouk Block (some 190 km north of Port Said). ENI holds a 60% stake in the Shorouk Block, Rosneft 30%, and BP 10% of the Contractor’s Share (where ENI, Rosneft, and BP are collectivity the Contractor).

The project is executed by Petrobel, the Operating Company jointly held by ENI and the state corporation Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), on behalf of Petroshorouk, jointly held by Contractor (ENI and its partners) and the state-owned EGAS.

ENI has been present in Egypt since 1954, where it operates through its subsidiary IEOC. The company is the country’s leading producer with equity of more than 260,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.