Côte d’Ivoire: Ouattara, Eni’s CEO announce significant offshore oil discovery

The President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara and the Chief Executive Officer of Eni, Claudio Descalzi have announced a major discovery in block CI-205, offshore Côte d’Ivoire.

Named Calao, this discovery represents the second largest find in Côte d’Ivoire, following the Baleine field discovered by Eni in September 2021 in Abidjan.

Alassane Ouattara and the Chief Executive Officer of Eni Claudio Descalzi met in Abidjan to discuss the company’s activities in the country, including the successful results of the exploration well Murene 1X on the discovery named Calao.

The Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé and the Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, also participated in the meeting.

The Calao discovery has been hailed as a significant milestone. Drilling operations occurred approximately 45 kilometers offshore in block CI-205, reaching a depth of 5,000 meters in water depths of around 2,200 meters.

The well encountered light oil, gas, and condensates in various intervals of Cenomanian age characterized by good to excellent permeability values. Preliminary assessments indicate potential resources ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Eni operates the block in partnership with Petroci Holding.

President Ouattara and Mr. Descalzi discussed the appraisal and development plans for the discovery, including Eni’s commitment to meet the country’s domestic needs.

Eni has been operating in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015. In addition to block CI-205, it holds participating interests in five other blocks in Ivorian deep waters: CI-101, CI-401, CI-501, CI-801, and CI-802, all in partnership with Petroci Holding.

Currently, Eni maintains an equity production of hydrocarbons amounting to approximately 22,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Baleine field, which commenced production in August 2023.