Egypt uses advanced techniques to boost gas production

Egypt is employing advanced extraction technologies and developing existing wells to maintain gas production levels and reduce domestic supply tensions. This strategy is crucial as the country faces the natural decline of its gas reservoirs, prompting the need for innovative methods to sustain output.

Bapetco initiates major fracturing operation

Badr El Din Petroleum Company (Bapetco), a joint venture involving the state-owned EGPC and partners Cheiron and Capricorn Energy, is set to begin a multi-phase hydraulic fracturing operation on the Obaiyed H18 well in the Western Desert. This project, expected to be the largest of its kind in Egypt’s oil and gas sector, will be carried out by Halliburton, an American oil services provider.

Government’s five-year plan emphasizes technology

The operation is part of Egypt’s five-year plan by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, aimed at optimizing existing infrastructure and using advanced technologies to support national production. This plan specifically targets reservoirs experiencing natural decline, as well as exploration and development efforts.

Hydraulic fracturing explained

Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting high-pressure fluids into rock formations to create fractures, allowing gas to flow more freely into the well. This technique is commonly used in shale gas extraction, though the Egyptian ministry has not classified Obaiyed H18 as a shale deposit. Instead, the operation aims to enhance gas recovery from an existing well.

Halliburton mobilizes significant equipment

Halliburton has deployed 18 high-pressure pumps for the operation, which collectively provide more than 40,000 horsepower. Bapetco has spent several months preparing the technical study and execution plan for this project, though no specific increase in gas output has been announced.

Bapetco’s production goals

The Obaiyed H18 operation is part of Bapetco’s broader development program. In the first half of the 2025/2026 fiscal year, the company achieved an average production of 49,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, including 171 million cubic feet of gas. For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, it aims to increase this to 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Future plans include more drilling and reorganization

Bapetco plans to drill 37 exploration and development wells in the coming year, with an estimated investment of 315 million USD. The company also intends to consolidate eight concessions in the Western Desert into a single contract to streamline operations and accelerate production. This effort is part of a broader strategy to enhance efficiency and expand exploration.