Italy’s Eni has cranked up production from the South West Meleiha Development in the Egyptian Western Desert, the company said July 23.

Two oil wells are producing about 5,000 barrels of oil per day (bbl/d) with production expected to increase to 7,000 bbl/d in September. Oil from the development is treated at the Meleiha Plant facilities operated by AGIBA, a company equally held by Eni subsidiary IEOC and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. (EGPC).

Eni said plans to drill nearby prospects are underway.

Through its subsidiary IEOC, Eni holds a 50% interest in South West Meleiha while EGPC holds the remaining 50%. AGIBA is the operator company on behalf of EGPC and Eni.

Eni said AGIBA also recently made two additional near-field oil discoveries at the Basma and Shemy prospects in the Meleiha development lease.

“On Basma, two wells have been successfully drilled and are already in production from the Jurassic Khatabta formation, while on Shemy prospect a well is currently under testing and targeting oil from the Matruh sands,” Eni said in the release. “Moreover, in the Meleiha development lease AGIBA has successfully continued a deepening campaign on existing shallow wells targeting the Alam El Bueib Cretaceous formation.”

The deepened producers are contributing about 6,000 bbl/d, Eni said.

The company also announced two discoveries—a gas discovery onshore in the El Qar’a exploration lease and an oil discovery offshore in the Abu Rudeis Sidri development lease in the Gulf of Suez.

Eni said the El Qar’a-NE1 well discovered gas in the sandstones of the Abu Madi formation. The well delivered 17 million standard cubic feet per day and associated condensates during clean-up, the company said, adding the well will be tied-in to existing facilities.

Eni, through its subsidiary, holds a 37.50% interest in El Qar’a exploration lease. Partners are BP (12.5%) and EGPC (50%). Petrobel is the operator of the lease on behalf of EGPC and Eni.

The offshore discovery was made by the Sidri-23 well in pre-Miocene sequences.

Eni said the discovery could hold up to 200 million barrels of oil in place.

“The well has been completed and brought on stream through production facilities available in the area,” Eni said. “Petrobel has a plan to develop the new discovery with about 10 wells that will be drilled in the near future.”