Egypt's cabinet approved the $105 million (80.32 million pounds) deal to explore the North Sinai region of the Mediterranean Sea in March.

Eni's discovery of the giant Mediterranean gas field Zohr in 2015, estimated to hold about 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, has raised interest in gas exploration in Egypt.

The company has not said what level of reserves they expect Noor to contain, and the exploratory well will help to begin determine that, Abdelaziz said.

(Reporting by Ahmed Ismail; Writing by Eric Knecht. Editing by Jane Merriman)