Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has officially directed an acceleration in the development of the Harmattan gas field. During a recent inspection of the Pharaonic Petroleum Company’s production facilities in Port Said, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, emphasized the necessity of fast-tracking the connection of Harmattan gas field to existing production facilities to enhance domestic natural gas supplies.
Strategies for Efficient Production
To achieve this goal, the Ministry has instructed project stakeholders to evaluate all available technical solutions and alternatives that could shorten the current project timeline. The primary objective is to bring the Harmattan gas field onstream as quickly as possible, allowing for the effective utilization of the region’s reserves.
The development plan highlights several critical components:
- Infrastructure integration: The field will be linked to the Hapiya processing facility via a 50-km gas pipeline, according to Pharaonic Petroleum Company Chairman Hossam Zaki.
- Targeted output: Once fully operational, the project aims to produce approximately 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, alongside 4,400 barrels of petroleum condensates daily.
- Technical collaboration: ENPPI is serving as the primary contractor, working in close cooperation with Petrojet and Petroleum Marine Services.
Advancing Drilling and Exploration
Beyond the specific development of the Harmattan gas field, the Minister underscored the importance of deploying cutting-edge technology in drilling and exploration. These efforts are designed to improve success rates and maximize the overall yield of Egypt’s energy resources.
The Pharaonic Petroleum Company reported that it successfully met its production targets for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Looking ahead, the firm is focused on expanding its infrastructure capabilities and reviewing exploration opportunities in the Ras El Bar, North Damietta, and Al-Borg areas.
The Tort-6 well is expected to commence production before the end of the year, with a targeted output of 40 million cubic feet of gas per day.
As part of the ongoing exploration program, drilling is also planned at the West Atoll exploratory well using the Valaris DS-12 rig. The project represents an investment of around $91 million and will target a depth of 6,000 meters. In addition, drilling activities are planned for the Benio well in the Ras El Bar area.
