Egypt is a mature oil & gas producer having long history in hydrocarbon exploration & production for more than a century. Yet major hydrocarbon potentials still exist and challenges are facing explorers to discover the huge remaining reserves in the different prospective provinces of Egypt including the offshore Mediterranean and Nile Delta.

Back to early sixties when exploration for gas started in the Mediterranean, Nile Delta and Western Desert, major activities took place leading to an outstanding number of gas discoveries. It is worth noting that, Abu Madi was the first onshore gas discovery made in the Nile Delta in 1967, followed by Abu Qir as the first offshore gas discovery in the Mediterranean in 1969. Following the encouraging results of this early phase, gas exploration spread all over the onshore Delta, offshore Mediterranean and the Western Desert.

Although the initial exploration activity in the Mediterranean deep water took place in 1975, it was not until 1995 when intensive exploration campaign started in these deep tracts leading to many commercial gas discoveries since 1998 till now.

A leading edge record of more than 42.000 sq.Km of 3D seismic was shot mainly in the Mediterranean sea, the Nile Delta and N. Sinai. Accordingly major gas discoveries were achieved leading to substantial increase in the discovered gas reserves to 72.3 TCF in 2007 vs 12 TCF in 1992. This growth was accomplished mainly by the development of the producing fields, intensive exploration efforts and applying the most recent concepts and state-of-the-art techniques in addition to expanded gas infrastructures and facilities.

Recent major gas discoveries in the Mediterranean deep water (> 500 m) encouraged international oil companies to actively compete for the ultra deep water areas of this province. Successful exploration and environmentally safe development & production operations in these areas is a forthcoming challenge.