The Italian company, Eni, discovered natural gas reserves at the Nouras exploratory sector, located in West Abu Madi concession area the Nile Delta, 120 km north-east of Alexandria. The company pointed out that the new discovery's initial evaluation revealed that gas and associated condensates' reserves amounted to approximately 15bn cubic metres. The discovery is set to be included on the production map within two months, after linking the discovery to the production facilities of the Abu Madi gas factory. The company revealed that the discovery was made at a depth of 3,600 metres, amid a thick, sandy, gas carrying layer. The thickness of this layer is 60 metres and it dates back to the Miocene epoch, in addition to many gas layers dating back to the Pliocene epoch. The new discovery comes in light of Eni's new work strategy, which targets re-concentrating its activities on the close fields and the increasing high-value exploratory opportunities, which could be quickly utilised through the close, already established, infrastructure. Through its company in Egypt, Ieoc, Eni owns75% of the southern Abu Madi concession area. The other 25% are owned by British Petroleum. The partnership company between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Ieoc, Petrobel, is responsible for operations in the southern Abu Madi concession area. Eni has been operating in Egypt since 1954, through its affiliated company Ieoc. It is considered the main producer of petroleum in Egypt, with rates reaching 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
