Algeria’s National state-owned oil company, Sonatrach announced that it had built six oil and gas discoveries during the first quarter of 2023, with one discovery close to the border with Libya. The company confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday that two discoveries were gas fields with “significant oil and gas potential” in the Amguid Messaoud basin.

The two wells drilled in the Amquid Messaoud basin, Sonatrach indicated it has a daily flow rate of 5,699 barrels of oil, 170,416 cubic meters of gas at the level of the first well, and the second well a daily flow rate of 4,856 barrels of oil, and 255,912 cubic meters of gas. Sonatrach also reported that it has found oil and gas reserves in the “Ohant” region of the Libyan border state of Illizi, with a daily flow rate of 1,504 barrels of condensate and 336,930 cubic meters of gas. 

According to Sonatrach, the fourth discovery yielded a daily flow of 266,532 cubic meters of gas, 1,905 barrels of oil, and 239 barrels of condensate. The fifth discovery yielded 3,117 barrels of oil and 219,336 cubic meters of gas. Both discoveries were made in the “Berkin Basin”. The recent discovery according to the company was in the “Oued Mia Basin” close to the Wilaya of Laghouat, with a daily output of 168,312 cubic meters of gas and 453 barrels of crude.

Sonatrach has produced 1.5 million cubic meters of gas and minor amounts of oil. It has also made seven discoveries for the whole of last year and this year it plans to generate 200 million tonnes of oil equivalent, an amount not achieved since 2010.

In consonance with company data, Sonatrach’s exploration success is nothing new, as it has discovered 35 oil and gas fields between 2020 and the end of 2022. One of these fields was jointly created with the Italian energy company Eni.