Cairo: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi recently met with a delegation from Halliburton, a leading global energy services company, to explore avenues for enhancing oil production and reducing operational costs in Egypt. The meeting, led by Ahmed Helmy, Halliburton's Vice President for North Africa, focused on leveraging the company's advanced technologies and technical applications to maximize the potential of Egypt's oil and gas resources. According to State Information Service Egypt, the minister emphasized that increasing production and optimizing the use of the country's energy resources are top priorities for the petroleum sector. He highlighted the critical role of modern technologies and international expertise in transforming the potential of various fields and reservoirs into tangible production increases. The discussions involved a directive for Halliburton to conduct detailed technical and economic studies on opportunities for boosting production, with particular emphasis o n horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies. Minister Badawi highlighted the necessity of reinforcing collaboration between Halliburton and key Egyptian entities, including the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and the South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company (GANOPE). This collaboration aims to identify priority opportunities and develop clear action plans to exploit them effectively. Furthermore, he urged the extension of modern technologies to natural gas projects, ensuring a comprehensive approach to resource utilization and economic efficiency. Ahmed Helmy commended the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for its recent initiatives to improve the investment climate and foster partnerships with international oil companies. He acknowledged the ministry's efforts to address outstanding payments to foreign partners, which has positively influenced the operational environment. Halliburton, with its operational flexi bility and expertise across North Africa, is poised to expand its presence in Egypt, offering technical and technological support for exploration and production activities. Helmy disclosed that Halliburton has initiated specialized studies to pinpoint opportunities in unconventional areas and reservoirs, aiming to enhance production and cost-efficiency. Initial applications of these solutions are anticipated in the Western Desert's Khalda Petroleum Company operations. Additionally, the company is preparing a comprehensive study to identify optimal opportunities for horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, tailored to the unique characteristics of each reservoir. Halliburton's business approach in Egypt extends beyond providing technical services and equipment. It includes knowledge transfer, expertise sharing, and technology deployment to improve project economics and sustainably increase production. Helmy noted that the company's studies have uncovered promising opportunities for performance enhanceme nt across several companies within the petroleum sector, including Khalda Petroleum Company, General Petroleum Company, and Badr Petroleum Company. Halliburton is committed to collaborating directly with operating companies to transform these opportunities into actionable programs, ultimately boosting production, improving efficiency, and reducing costs.