Egypt Taps Advanced Drilling Techniques to Significantly Boost Oil and Gas Production

Egypt is intensifying its use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling as pivotal technologies within the petroleum sector's five-year strategic plan, according to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi. During an on-site inspection of hydraulic fracturing operations at the H-18 well in the Western Desert's Al Abyad field, managed by BAPETCO, Badawi highlighted the initiative's objectives: to elevate output from existing wells, revitalize declining fields, and access previously uneconomical resources. The H-18 well operations are specifically designed to increase daily gas production from 3 million to approximately 12 million cubic feet through multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. The minister pointed out that these advanced techniques have demonstrated considerable success globally, notably in the United States and Saudi Arabia, and have also proven effective within Egypt's Western Desert. He further stated that the ministry is collaborating with international partners to establish attractive investment incentives and economic frameworks to promote broader adoption of these methods. A preliminary assessment by oilfield services firm NESR indicates that expanding hydraulic fracturing in the Western Desert could potentially add between 50,000 and 100,000 barrels of oil per day to Egypt's production, contingent upon further technical and economic evaluations. Concurrently, 15 horizontal wells have been completed in the General Petroleum Company’s Sinai fields, with four more currently in progress. Petrobel has also successfully drilled the SIDRI-48 horizontal well, and plans are in motion to drill two additional horizontal wells in the Nes field. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation is spearheading this initiative, meticulously reviewing technical data from 38 production companies to pinpoint suitable wells and reservoirs and to prioritize projects based on their economic viability. The ministry has also engaged SLB and Halliburton to evaluate three potential opportunities within the Abu Rawash reservoirs. Initial findings from these assessments are anticipated to be released progressively during the third quarter of the 2026/2027 fiscal year.