Exploration is considered the major method by which oil and gas reserves maybe increased . This activity starts with seismic surveys, their analysis, and the processing of the data obtained in order to determine prospects and formations which may be subsequently drilled in order to ascertain the presence of oil or gas.
NOC has performed through its fully owned joint venture companies, seismic surveys, and has drilled exploratory wells in the sedimentary by-sins found in many parts of SPLAJ extending from cyrenaica platform to Sirt, Alhamada, Ghadames, Murzuk and El-Kufra bsins, in addition to off-shore areas within territorial waters and the continental shelf.
A Mobile Rig In The Contenental Shelf
During the period from 1980 to 1987, a total of 194,269 longitudinal kms have been surveyed in-land and a total of 52,987 longitudinal kms have been surveyed off -shore . The number of exploratory wells drilled for new fields reached 273, out of which 118 were successful, with a success rate reaching 43%.
NOC and affiliated companies look forward to perfoming more exploratory activities in order to in-crease the oil and gas reserves of the SPLAJ, by adopting new policies which aim at attracting specialized foreign companies to joint ventures. Moreover, new exploratory methods are adopted such as off-shore exploration, deep drilling and drilling of high-risk prospects with high potentials and expectations.
