Energy giant Chevron will begin surveying the east Mediterranean seabed early this summer in preparation for a pipeline connecting a significant natural gas deposit off the coast of Cyprus to processing facilities in Egypt.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth informed Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides of the survey's timetable during a meeting at the company's Houston headquarters. Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis provided the update in a statement, offering no further details on the survey's specifics.

The planned pipeline will link Cyprus’ Aphrodite field, estimated to hold up to 4.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with an undisclosed facility on Egypt’s coastline.

Christodoulides was in Houston as part of a weeklong trip to the United States aimed at attracting investment to the east Mediterranean island nation.

Chevron, along with partners Shell and Israeli NewMed Energy, is responsible for developing the Aphrodite field, which was discovered in 2011 approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Cyprus within the island’s exclusive economic zone.

In February, Chevron, NewMed, and Shell formalized an agreement with Egypt outlining the framework for the Aphrodite field's development. This agreement followed the Cypriot government and the Chevron-led consortium's approval of a revised production plan that includes a floating platform for initial gas processing and the subsequent pipeline to Egypt.

According to the statement, Christodoulides emphasized to Wirth that the development of Aphrodite is a priority for Cyprus, highlighting the nation's potential as a new energy supplier for neighboring countries and the European Union.

Chevron officials stated that Aphrodite is a key component of the company’s activities in the eastern Mediterranean, a region considered important for Chevron’s future plans and priorities. 

The company is currently the only energy company with operations in Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, and Greece.