Norwegian geophysical specialist PGS has wasted no time in kicking off a multi-client seismic program across six freshly-awarded blocks in Egypt’s western Mediterranean offshore.

Awards were finalized last month, with Cairo pulling off a major coup in getting Chevron, Shell, BP and Total to sign up (MEES, 10 July). Chevron originally signed up to two blocks but doubled that to four with its takeover of Noble Energy which signed up alongside Shell at two further blocks. The two majors, alongside BP and Eni, are emerging as the key players in plans that would see Israeli and Cypriot gas discoveries tied back to Egypt to make the East Mediterranean an integrated gas region (MEES, 30 October). (CONTINUED - 403 WORDS)