Vaalco adds production offshore Gabon, starts next drilling phase in Côte d'Ivoire

Vaalco has brought a new producer online offshore Gabon while advancing a multi-well drilling campaign at the Baobab Field offshore Côte d'Ivoire, where first production from the latest phase is expected later this year.
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Oct. 8, 2026
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Why this news matters:

  • A new SE Etame producer is contributing additional offshore Gabon output, with initial stabilized rates of about 2,000 b/d.

  • Vaalco has shifted from completing its Gabon campaign to advancing a multi-well development program at the Baobab Field offshore Côte d'Ivoire. 

  • The Baobab drilling program could add new production capacity as wells are brought online through 2026.

Courtesy MODEC
FPSO Baobab Ivoirien

The Baobab FPSO operates offshore Côte d'Ivoire, where Vaalco is advancing a multi-well drilling and field development campaign expected to add new production capacity.

Vaalco's current offshore focus:

  • Completed Phase 3 drilling at SE Etame offshore Gabon

  • Participating interest in the Baobab field offshore Côte d'Ivoire

  • First new Baobab producer expected online by year-end

Vaalco has brought a new producer online offshore Gabon while advancing a multi-well drilling campaign at the Baobab Field offshore Côte d'Ivoire.

New SE Etame producer comes online

Vaalco Energy has brought onstream a new development well at the SE Etame Field offshore Gabon, completing its Phase 3 drilling campaign, according to the company’s latest operational updates report.

The ETSEM-3H producer was drilled into an attic position within the field, with a lateral wellbore delivering 300 m of net pay in good-quality Gamba reservoir sands. The stabilized initial flow rate was about 2,000 bbl/d of oil.

Borr Drilling’s Borr Norve jackup rig has now demobilized from the field.

Baobab development drilling advances

Offshore Côte d’Ivoire, Vaalco is a partner to CNR in the Baobab Field, where Phase 5 drilling operations have started with batch-setting of top-holes. Earlier this year, MODEC's FPSO Baobab Ivoirien was re-installed following a shipyard stay in Dubai for life-extension upgrades.

Once all top-hole sections have been drilled, the wells will be completed and placed on production sequentially. Vaalco expects the first producer to go online toward the end of this year.

The current plan for the Phase 5 program is to drill four producers and three water injectors, with two workovers.

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About the Author

Jeremy Beckman
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Jeremy Beckman

Staff Writer / Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.

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