Image: Resource Global Network
Italian oil giant Eni has announced the discovery of a major hydrocarbon deposit in the Baleine prospect offshore the Ivory Coast. The discovery was made in Block C1-101, under a joint venture between Eni (90%) and the national oil company Petroci Holding (10%), and has revealed potential deposits of 2 billion barrels of oil and between 1.8 and 2.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
After 2D seismic surveying revealed the sedimentary basin’s potential, the company proceeded with exploratory drilling, with the well reaching a total depth of 3,445m in 30 days. The first to be drilled by the company in the Ivory Coast, the well was drilled by the Saipem 10000 drill ship, approximately 60km off the coast.
Eni has been exploring the Ivory Coast’s offshore waters for 20 years, with no commercial discoveries being made until now. With the company planning to move onto the evaluation program to assess the upside potential of the area that extends into Block CI-802 – also operated by Eni – stakeholders are calling for a fast-tracked approach to field development.
With participating interests in four other blocks in the Ivorian deep water, as well as world class assets in Libya, Nigeria, Mozambique and Angola, Eni is making significant progress in the quest for hydrocarbon developments in Africa.
