Houston-based Apex International Energy has awarded a contract to acquire 1,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic data in its Egyptian Southeast Meleiha Concession.

The contract has been won by Chinese geophysical service company BGP.

Apex is committed to investing more than $27m during the first phase of exploration.

Planned exploration activity includes detailed geological studies, the acquisition of 3D seismic data and six exploratory wells.

Apex’s two concession areas total more than 1.7 million acres in the Abu Gharadig Basin in Egypt's Western Desert.

Apex was awarded the two blocks as part of an Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) bid round in 2016.

The production sharing contracts were signed on 29 August 2017.

Speaking about the exploration time frame, the founder and CEO of Apex International said: “At Southeast Meleiha Concession we will commence 3D seismic acquisition operations in the Q4 2018.”

“We expect to begin drilling the first of six exploration wells before year end.”

The oil and gas potential in North Africa, particularly in Egypt, has resulted in increased exploration.

Last year BGP completed a 3D survey for Chevron in the Divided Zone shared by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. At the time Chevron said it was the fifth-largest onshore seismic survey in the world.