• Equatorial Guinea prepares offshore oil licensing round

• Reprocessed seismic data to attract investors, improve subsurface insights

• Move aims to boost declining output and secure new investment

Equatorial Guinea is preparing to award new offshore oil licenses ahead of a bidding round. The move follows the reprocessing of offshore seismic data carried out by data provider Searcher, according to international media reports on Friday, March 20.

Searcher said it reprocessed approximately 7,400 kilometers of 2D seismic data across several offshore areas. The existing data was re-analyzed using more recent technologies to improve imaging and interpretation, World Oil reported.

The reprocessed data will be made available to interested oil companies before the launch of the licensing round. The goal is to provide investors with updated subsurface data.

This is a standard preliminary step in the oil industry, allowing producing states to enhance the value of their assets before offering exploration licenses. According to Upstream Online, the next offshore licensing round could cover approximately 25 blocks.

The project comes as Equatorial Guinea’s oil output has declined in recent years. In January 2026, Ecofin Agency reported that the country’s authorities are actively seeking funding to support oil and gas production.

Ecofin said the government has taken steps to raise capital to maintain production levels, as existing fields mature. The authorities have pointed to the need for additional investment to develop new projects and extend the life of producing assets.

Abdel-Latif Boureima