Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, conducted a field visit to follow up on the commencement of seismic survey operations in the southern Western Desert, west of Assiut.
Badawi explained that the seismic survey, launched by Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) in cooperation with Saudi Ardiseis, uses modern technology to collect data on oil and gas reservoirs. The survey covers vast areas exceeding 100,000 square kilometers, representing nearly 10% of Egypt’s total area.
He added that this survey will help attract investors, reduce investment risks in the new areas of the southern Western Desert, and encourage faster drilling of new exploratory oil and natural gas wells. It also aims to position these areas on the investment map for exploration and production.
Badawi directed that data processing proceeds in parallel with ongoing survey operations to obtain early preliminary results, which will promote new investment opportunities during the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2026) next year.
During the visit, Mohamed Radwan, Ganope’s Vice Chairman for Agreements and Exploration and the Egypt Upstream Getaway (EUG) Manager, reviewed the progress of the 2D seismic survey project, which covers the West Assiut and Dakhla basins, two largely unexplored geological areas. The survey spans 5,233 kilometers of seismic lines, covering over 100,000 square kilometers, and is scheduled for completion within 12 months.
Signed between Ganope and Ardiseis in June, the project employs cutting-edge ground node technology used for the first time in Egypt’s exploration activities, which enhances data accuracy and quality, Radwan added. The technology relies on wireless, autonomous seismic sensors (nodes) scattered across the survey area to capture super-high-resolution images of what lies beneath the surface.
The Ministry has been focusing on developing new data to tap into new oil and gas reservoirs across Egypt. Furthermore, Badawi revealed last month at the GASTECH Exhibition and Conference in Italy plans to carry out an ocean bottom node (OBN) seismic survey project in the Eastern Mediterranean, covering an area of 95,000 square kilometers using the latest global technologies in seismic surveying and exploration.
The project will be implemented in three phases over seven years. The first phase will be rolled out in 2026, covering 18,000 square kilometers with investments worth $117 million. It has been awarded to the global energy technology company SLB and the geophysical services company Viridien.
