Rome-based Eni SpA (NYSE: E) said on March 20 that in three years, production in Egypt’s Western Desert doubled to 70 Mbbl/d.

Results were partly due to production at the Melehia development lease 290 km west of Alexandria. Production there has reached 54 Mbbl/d after exploration in deep Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic plays, where appraisal, workover and production optimization activities are ongoing.

The area’s remaining production comes from the Ras Qattara, Raml and West Razzak development leases.

In January Eni signed a new concession agreement to operate in the Melehia Southwest Block, where exploration and other activities will begin later this year.

Through subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Co., Eni holds a 76% stake in Melehia’s license. The other partner is Lukoil with a 24% stake. The operator is Agiba, which is equally held by IEOC and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp.

Eni produced about 210 Mboe/d in Egypt in 2014.