The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, has announced that Egypt will launch the first phase of an advanced offshore seismic survey within two weeks, covering approximately 18,000 square kilometres of Egyptian waters in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The project will use Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) technology to improve geological imaging, identify promising natural gas prospects, attract international investment and support exploration decisions.
Implemented by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), in collaboration with the international companies SLB and Viridien, the project forms part of an integrated seismic survey programme covering 95,000 square kilometres of Egyptian waters.
It aims to establish an extensive database to assess undiscovered hydrocarbon resources and maximise their potential.
The minister emphasised that OBN technology represents a significant advancement in offshore surveying, delivering more precise images of subsea geological structures, particularly in technically challenging areas.
Improved data quality will help identify prospective locations for exploratory wells, reduce technical risks and direct investment towards the most promising opportunities.
He added that processing and interpreting the collected data would transform geological insights into investment opportunities, encouraging international companies to expand exploration and drilling activities and increasing the potential for new discoveries to strengthen domestic natural gas production.
Preparations are progressing, with the offshore operations vessel ‘Commander’ having arrived at Port Said as the first vessel assigned to the project.
Two additional vessels are expected to follow before survey and data acquisition operations begin.
Activities will commence in the Denise areas, offshore Port Said and Ras El Bar, and continue until the end of 2026, in accordance with the implementation schedule.
Meanwhile, the consortium is finalising technical and logistical arrangements to sustain operations throughout 2027, ensuring the continued deployment of vessels and marine equipment and the efficient execution of the wider programme.
