Dana Petroleum is to continue its push into North Africa after securing new exploration sites in the Egyptian desert.
The Aberdeen-based firm has picked up two new concessions at West Dakhla in the country’s Western Desert.
The sites will be subjected to aero-magnetic surveys and 2D seismic work over the next three years as Dana look to establish the commercial viability of them.
“These two concessions in the Western Desert are a welcome addition to the exploration portfolio,” said the company’s Egyptian managing director Paul Barnett.
“This, along with the award of the South Wadi Dara block in the Gulf of Suez we announced at the end of 2013, will help us build our exploration activities in Egypt.”
Dana Petroleum currently operates 21 development leases in the country, producing around 9,000 barrels per day.
The move comes as Egypt continues to look to attract new investment into the country after beginning repayments to majors over $6billion of unpaid fees.
Last month the first tranche of debt repayments began with $1.5billion paid out.