The discoveries were made by the Jasmine W-1X and MWD-21 wells, which were drilled respectively in the Aman area near the west Meleiha deep field. CAIRO: Italian energy company Eni has made three new oil and gas discoveries in Egypt’s Western Desert, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum has announced. Oil, gas, and condensate (a mix of light liquid hydrocarbons) were found in the Meleiha concession area, and oil in the southwest Meleiha zone. The discoveries were made by the Jasmine W-1X and MWD-21 wells, which were drilled respectively in the Aman area near the west Meleiha deep field. In a statement, the ministry said that tests resulted in an average production of 2,000 barrels per day of light crude and 7 million cubic feet per day of associated gas. The MWD-21 well, which has already been linked to production, also yielded a stable rate of 2,500 bpd. In the southwest Meleiha concession, the SWM-4X well, located 35 kilometers south of the Meleiha field, was used for the discoveries. The test resulted in a production rate of approximately 1,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The three wells will add a total production of about 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Eni’s ongoing oil and gas exploration strategy in the area means that any discoveries can be quickly and cost-effectively linked into existing production facilities. Eni, through its subsidiary AIOC, owns a 38 percent stake in the Meleiha concession license, while Russia’s Lukoil has 12 percent, and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. 50 percent. In the southwest Meleiha concession, Eni owns, through AIOC, a 50 percent stake, with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. holding the remaining share. Eni has been operating in Egypt since 1954 and is a major producer, with a current production of about 360,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.