Egypt and SLB discuss boosting oil and gas output with AI-assisted exploration
Egypt's petroleum minister met SLB's CEO to strengthen cooperation on technology, digital transformation, and exploration and production. They reviewed advanced offshore seismic survey work in the eastern Mediterranean covering about 95,000 square kilometers and next steps for Red Sea surveys. Talks also covered horizontal drilling, AI applications for reservoir management and production optimization, and the Egypt Exploration and Production Portal.
Egypt’s petroleum minister, Karim Badawi, met SLB CEO Olivier Le Peuch during the 2026 World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh. Their talks focused on expanding cooperation in advanced technology, digital transformation, and exploration and production to lift domestic output and draw investment.
They reviewed progress on an ocean-bottom node seismic survey in the eastern Mediterranean, run with the SLB–Viridien alliance and covering roughly 95,000 square kilometers. Discussions included survey timing, data processing, initial results, and preparing information for Egypt’s exploration and production portal ahead of future licensing rounds. They also followed up on horizontal drilling pilots, AI for reservoir management and production optimization with EGPC and EGAS, Red Sea survey next steps, local content, and Egypt’s potential as a regional petroleum services hub.
Count words. First para: Egypt’s(1) petroleum2 minister3 Karim4 Badawi5 met6 SLB7 CEO8 Olivier9 Le10 Peuch11 during12 the13 2026(14?) World15 Petroleum16 Congress17 in18 Riyadh19. Their20 talks21 focused22 on23 expanding24 cooperation25 in26 advanced27 technology28, digital29 transformation30, and31 exploration32 and33 production34 to35 lift36 domestic37 output38 and39 draw40 investment41. Good 41.
Second para: They42 reviewed43 progress44 on45 an46 ocean-bottom47 node48 seismic49 survey50 in51 the52 eastern53 Mediterranean54, run55 with56 the57 SLB–Viridien58 alliance59 and60 covering61 roughly62 95,00063 square64 k