The South Valley Egyptian Holding Petroleum Company (Ganope) has completed a geological field expedition in the southern Gulf of Suez and Red Sea region to deepen understanding of the basins, supporting the planned international exploration bid round in the Red Sea. This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ (MoPMR) strategy to attract new investments in untapped oil and gas exploration areas.

The four-day expedition, organized in cooperation with the Egyptian Petroleum Exploration Society (EPEX) and several university professors, brought together 25 geologists from international and Egyptian petroleum companies. The fieldwork contributes valuable data to enhance Egypt’s geological database and support future investment opportunities in the Red Sea region.

The expedition included structural studies in Wadi Jasus, field studies of Oligocene outcrops, and focused work along the Quseir–Qift and Safaga–Quseir roads. Key visits included Jabal Abu Shaar, known for its remarkable carbonate outcrops, and Jabal al-Zeit, home to one of Egypt’s most notable natural oil seepage sites. The crude oil emergence at Jabal al-Zeit, a rare geological phenomenon, played a historic role in the discovery of petroleum in the Gulf of Suez.

The expedition was carried out in coordination with companies operating in the Gulf of Suez, including PetroGulf, Offshore Shukeir Oil Co. (OSOCO), and Suez Oil (SUCO).

The MoPMR recently announced the preparation for launching an international bid round for oil and gas exploration in four Red Sea areas through the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG), an announcement made on the sidelines of the World Energies Summit in London.