The British company SDX Energy announced on Friday new gas discovery in its ongoing drilling operation near the northern Moroccan city of Kenitra.

The SAH-2 well was drilled to a total depth of 1,304 meters and encountered 5.2 meters of net conventional natural gas pay across two zones in the Guebbas and Hoot formations, the company said in a statement.

"The well came in on prognosis but with a reservoir thickness above pre-drill expectations," the same source noted.

SAH-2 will now be completed, tested and connected to existing infrastructure, SDX said, adding that it expects to provide a further update on testing results in early April.

The new discovery is the fifth from seven wells drilled to date by the British company in its nine-well Moroccan campaign.