Italy's Eni petroleum company has made a new natural gas discovery in the western Abu Madi field in the Nile Delta region.

At a depth of 3,600 meters, a well, Nidoco Northwest - 2, had been dug about 120 kilometers northeast of Alexandria, a statement by the Petroleum Ministry said Monday.

Initial estimates put the amount of reserves at about 15 billion cubic meters of gas and associated condensates.

The western Abu Madi concession is operated by Eni through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC), which holds a 75% stake.

Eni has been present in Egypt since 1954 and is the main producer of oil in the country.