Viridien and Morocco's ONHYM have agreed to develop subsurface data and analysis for onshore and offshore sedimentary basins. The work may inform future exploration decisions, but no budget, schedule, new wells or commercial discovery has been disclosed.
On 7 October 2026, Viridien and Morocco's hydrocarbons agency, the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), announced a multi-client agreement covering the country's onshore and offshore sedimentary basins. The two sides plan to develop integrated subsurface data and analytics.
Morocco is seeking a clearer picture of its domestic energy resources, even as it remains reliant on imported energy. Better geological data may help guide future exploration and investment decisions. The agreement itself does not add gas supply or launch a production project.
The framework pairs ONHYM's regional expertise with Viridien's subsurface imaging and data analysis technologies. ONHYM chief executive Amina Benkhadra said the work is intended to improve understanding of the subsurface, attract investment and support exploration opportunities. Viridien's head of Earth Data, Dechun Lin, described the deal as part of the company's deeper engagement in Africa. Published coverage has not named the basins or disclosed a budget, survey volume or timetable.
The deal sets up shared data and analytics for multiple market participants. It is not an exploration licence, a discovery or an investment decision. Available reporting does not confirm new wells, approved spending, a commercial find or a regulatory decision resulting directly from the partnership.
Morocco's broader gas plans include the proposed Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, a separate regional infrastructure project. 7news.ma's pipeline report describes a route of approximately 6,800-6,900 kilometres through 13 West African countries. The proposal sets out around 15 billion cubic metres of gas for domestic and regional use, with a further 15 billion potentially available for export to Europe. These figures describe the plan, not current supply or confirmed export volumes.
According to that report, ONHYM had advanced pipeline design work in April 2026. Full-scale construction is planned for 2028, and the northern section has a first-gas target of 2031. Those dates apply to the pipeline, not the Viridien agreement; they do not set a schedule for basin surveys or exploration under the data framework.
Regional projects also differ in what they aim to do. Algeria's recovery studies focus on raising output from resources that have already been discovered. The Morocco partnership, by contrast, is about assessing subsurface data. A data initiative is not the same as a producing field or a confirmed resource.
The Viridien agreement has no disclosed budget, named basin list, survey volume or timetable. It also does not confirm new wells or a commercial discovery.
