Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, announced that the petroleum sector is preparing to launch the first phase of an advanced offshore seismic survey project in Egyptian waters in the Eastern Mediterranean within the next two weeks. Covering an area of approximately 18,000 square kilometers, the survey will use Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) technology to enhance natural gas exploration prospects, provide more accurate geological data, attract new investments, and accelerate exploration decision-making.

The Minister highlighted that the project represents a key pillar in advancing Egypt’s exploration activities through the deployment of the latest global technologies for data acquisition and analysis. This will help improve understanding of subsea geological structures, identify areas with the greatest potential for natural gas exploration, and open up new opportunities for international companies to increase their investments in exploration and production activities.

The project is to be implemented by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), in cooperation with the global consortium of SLB and Viridien, as part of an integrated seismic survey program in Egypt’s Eastern Mediterranean waters. The program aims to cover a total area of up to 95,000 square kilometers, providing an expanded data base to support efforts to assess undiscovered hydrocarbon resources and maximize their development.