Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reported positive drilling results from the Narges-2 natural-gas well in the Mediterranean, saying the work confirmed that gas-bearing formations extend beyond those encountered at Narges-1 and identified an additional gas-bearing layer. The ministry’s announcement, dated October 24, says drilling began in May and was carried out by Chevron with its partners and state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, known as EGAS.

The ministry said Narges-2 was intended both to assess the extent of the Narges discovery, first announced in 2022, and to test deeper geological layers. The final well depth exceeded 5,000 metres. Evaluation indicated gas-bearing intervals with net thickness of up to 35 metres, according to the ministry. Those measurements are encouraging geological indicators, but the release does not provide a gas-in-place estimate, recoverable reserves, a production forecast, a development budget or a final investment decision.

The next step described by the ministry is continued technical evaluation of the area’s gas potential and a study of whether development can be commercially viable. The statement frames Narges as an undeveloped discovery whose commercial exploitation is still being assessed. It says the results support further appraisal; it does not say that the field has entered production or that a schedule for first gas has been set. That distinction matters because a gas-bearing interval is not itself a reserve booking or a commitment to build production facilities.

Chevron operates the Narges area with Italy’s Eni, Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Egypt’s Tharwa Petroleum, the ministry said. The work forms part of the country’s effort to evaluate offshore resources and increase domestic gas supply, but the release offers no quantified contribution to future output. It also notes that the well tested deeper formations associated with high pressure and temperature, without publishing well-test flow rates. Until further technical results or a development plan are disclosed, the announcement supports a narrower conclusion: drilling extended the known gas-bearing section and found another layer that merits assessment, while the scale, economics and timing of any project remain unknown.