The Algerian hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach announced on Monday that it had made three oil and gas discoveries in the Algerian Sahara, one of which was in partnership with the Italian group Eni.
The first exploration, carried out by Sonatrach on its own funds, concerns two reservoirs in the research perimeter – In Amenas 2 – of the Illizi Basin, according to the Sonatrach press release.
“The flow rates recorded during the tests are 300,000 m3/day of gas and 26 m3/day of condensate from the first tank and 213,000 m3/day of gas and 17 m3/day of condensate from the second tank,” the group said.
The second discovery was made by Sonatrach and its Italian partner Eni in the northern region of the Berkine Basin and “highlighted a discovery of crude oil”. “During the production test, the well gave rise to 1,300 barrels/day of oil and 51,000 m3/day of associated gas”, underlines the Sonatrach group.
Release
The early production of the first two discoveries will be accelerated by connecting the wells to existing facilities.
The third discovery made by the Algerian group was recorded “during the drilling of a well on the Taghit research perimeter of the Bechar Basin, where an interesting gas production was obtained during the test”.
In early January, Sonatrach announced investments of $40 billion between 2022 and 2026 in oil exploration, production, and refining as well as gas prospecting and extraction. The group’s revenues increased by 70% in 2021 thanks to a 19% increase in its hydrocarbon exports, its CEO, Toufik Hakkar, said in January.
Invasion of Ukraine
Algeria, whose proven reserves of natural gas amount to nearly 2,400 billion m3, supplies around 11% of the gas consumed in Europe, compared to 47% for Russia. It is the first African exporter of natural gas and the 7th in the world.
Several countries seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian deliveries since the invasion of Ukraine have turned to Algeria. During the Algerian-Italian summit held on July 18, Algeria announced an increase in its gas deliveries to Italy, of which it has become the leading supplier ahead of Russia, after the invasion of Ukraine.
