GANOPE Chairman, Abu Bakr Ibrahim, told Egypt Oil & Gas that his company is preparing to announce the results of a seismic, magnetic, and aerial survey conducted by GDF Suez in its concession areas.

According to Ibrahim, drilling operations are to begin at end of 2016 based on these seismic studies.

The siesmic was a 2D survey in the Wadi al-Dub Area and east Wadi al-Dub areas in the Gulf of Suez, 310 km squared.

GANOPE is also preparing a survey for the Gulf Al-Kebir area, beginning in 2016, estimated to cost $2.5m.

The Ukrainian company Naftogaz carrying out a seismic survey in the Wadi Mahareeth and South Wadi Mahareeth area in Assiut. A large portion of the survey was completed and 2016 will witness drilling operations.

Rock Gas also completed a 2D survey in the Ghazagliat region in the Western Desert over a 611 km squared, currently processing the seismic data with drilling in 2016.

As for Dana Petroleum’s concession area in Gharb Al-Dakhla 1 and 2 where an aerial and gravitational survey was carried out over a 13,000 km and aerial magnetic survey for 33,900 km out of 46,000 km, or 74% of the total area.

These areas are close to Egypt’s borders with Libya.  Drilling will begin in the end of 2016 or the beginning of 2017.