Greece: Chevron Seismic Research in Ionian Sea, Crete to Start in 2026

Chevron plans to begin seismic research this year in offshore blocks near Greece, the Greek energy ministry said Wednesday.

The disclosure came after a meeting in New York between Chevron Country Manager Beatrice Bienvenu and Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou. According to the ministry, Bienvenu said the surveys — covering the Ionian Sea and areas south of the Peloponnese and Crete — would get underway before the end of the year.

Expanding footprint in Greek waters

The seismic work builds on Chevron’s growing presence in Greece’s offshore energy sector. Earlier this year, the company acquired a 70% stake from Helleniq Energy in an offshore block southwest of the Ionian Sea.

Separately, a Chevron-led consortium holds exclusive lease agreements to search for gas in three additional deep-sea blocks located off the Peloponnese and Crete.

Seismic exploration is considered the preliminary phase in evaluating a region’s hydrocarbon potential, providing data that would inform any future decision on test drilling.