The Egyptian Drilling Company (EDC), the drilling arm of Egypt’s state petroleum sector, has launched a new overseas operation in southeastern Türkiye, deploying two of its rigs under a two-year, $43 million contract with the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) — a move that signals Egypt’s growing ambition to export its energy services capacity.
Both the EDC 42 and EDC 52 rigs commenced operations in April 2026 in the Diyarbakir region, targeting wells to depths of up to 15,000 feet. EDC has already completed the first drilling section of one well — including casing and cementing operations — with drilling reaching approximately 2,200 metres. Production from the wells is expected within a month, with initial output projected at between 500 and 1,000 barrels per day.
The Türkiye deployment forms part of a broader international expansion drive. EDC has secured new contracts in Kuwait and Türkiye with combined projected revenues of $86 million, and the company is actively pursuing entry into India, the UAE, Oman, and West Africa — a push that reflects ambitions well beyond its origins as a domestic drilling contractor.
Founded in 1976 with a capital of EGP 100,000 and a single onshore rig, EDC has grown into a regional heavyweight with a fleet of 66 onshore and offshore rigs and 5,600 employees across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The latest international move marks a new chapter for an institution that has evolved from a national drilling unit into a continental services competitor.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com