Cairo — US-based Apache Corporation, in partnership with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), has confirmed a new natural gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert following the successful drilling of the SKAL-1X exploratory well in the South Kalabsha area.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, preliminary testing indicates output of around 26 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of natural gas, alongside approximately 2,700 barrels per day of condensates, underscoring the commercial viability of the find.
The discovery forms part of Egypt’s broader upstream strategy to enhance domestic gas production, attract foreign investment, and reduce reliance on imports. Officials highlighted that recent fiscal and regulatory incentives have supported increased exploration activity, particularly by Apache, which continues to scale its operations in proximity to existing concessions.
Positioned near established infrastructure, the discovery is expected to lower development costs and accelerate tie-in timelines, enabling faster integration into Egypt’s production network. The approach also supports efforts to offset natural decline rates in mature fields while optimising capital expenditure.
Apache, active in Egypt since the mid-1990s, remains a key operator in the Western Desert through its joint venture with EGPC and Khalda Petroleum.
