Awards have yet to be finalized for six blocks in Egypt’s virgin West Mediterranean region but plans are already afoot to shoot seismic in the final quarter of this year and the first half of next year. Cairo is hopeful that a first exploration well will be drilled late next year with more to follow in 2022.

An official at state firm Egas, speaking to local media, says that firms will commence shooting seismic once the blocks have been ratified by parliament, which could be as early as Q4. An announcement was made in July that majors BP, Chevron, Shell and Total would be awarded blocks in the West Mediterranean (see map & MEES, 10 July). (CONTINUED - 693 WORDS)