Algeria: Eni and Sonatrach start gas production in 2 Algerian fields

Oil and gas supermajor Eni has started production from two natural gas fields related to its Berkine Sud contract in Algeria. Operated by Eni and Algeria's national oil and gas producer, Sonatrach, the new volumes will be added to the Berkine North contract and other regional operations in the North African country.

Production from the two gas fields under the Berkine South contract currently amounts to one million standard cubic metres of gas per day and approximately 4,000 barrels of associated liquids per day.

The contract's production capacity is expected to reach around two million cubic metres per day by the end of the year, helping to boost Algeria's gas exports, meeting demand from European markets while helping the country's northern Menzel Ledjmet complex reach a production capacity of 11 million cubic metres per day.

The Berkine Sud contract, which was awarded under fast-track development in April this year, is the first contract signed under Algeria's Hydrocarbons Law 19-13 of 2019, which changes the country's legal framework for the hydrocarbon sector.

Present in Algeria since 1981 and currently the leading international energy company operating in the country, the exploitation and development of the Berkine basin is expected to increase Eni's production in Algeria to more than 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2023.

In September this year, Eni announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire bp's Algerian oil and gas operation, the In Amenas and In Salah natural gas fields, demonstrating the company's commitment to providing safe and sustainable energy to its customers.