On 20 January 2020, Apache and the Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) signed agreements with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for E&P activities in two blocks located in the Northern Egypt Basin, Western Desert.   The first agreement covers activities in the West Kalabsha block. It states minimum investment expenditures of USD 20.8 million and includes a signature bonus of USD 6 million for the drilling of exploration wells (number of wells not disclosed). The block, which covers an area of 1,067 sq km was granted to Apache as a sole operator in May 2019.   The second agreement covers activities in the 1,380 sq km West Kanayes block. It states minimum investment expenditures of USD 5.5 million and includes a signature bonus of USD 4 million for the drilling of exploration wells (number of wells was not disclosed). The block was granted to Apache as a sole operator in September 2019.
Apache was awarded West Kalabsha & West Kanayes blocks.