Eni starts Baleine oil and gas production offshore Côte d’Ivoire

Aug. 28, 2023
Eni has started production from the Baleine Field offshore Côte d’Ivoire with partner Petroci.

Offshore staff

MILAN  Eni has started production of oil and gas from the Baleine Field offshore Côte d’Ivoire.

Eni says this milestone comes less than two years after the discovery in September 2021 and less than a year and a half after the final investment decision. This marks the first emissions-free Scope 1 and 2 production project in Africa.

Baleine stands as the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the Ivorian sedimentary basin. Eni says the fast time-to-market was made possible through the company's phased development approach characteristic of recent projects, and along with partner Petroci's full collaboration.

For the initial phase, production takes place through the Baleine FPSO, a refurbished and upgraded FPSO unit capable of handling up to 15,000 bbl/d of oil and about 25 Mscf/d of associated gas.

The start of Phase 2 is expected by year-end 2024 and will increase field production to 50,000 bbl/d of oil and about 70 Mscf/d of associated gas.

Phase 3 aims to elevate field production up to 150,000 bbl/d of oil and 200 Mscf/d of gas. The entire gas production from the Baleine Field in this development phase and the subsequent ones will be delivered onshore through a newly constructed pipeline. 

Eni's presence in Côte d’Ivoire dates back to the 1960s with Agip Côte d’Ivoire. Eni reentered the country in 2015 and currently holds interests in the CI-101 and CI-802 blocks where the Baleine Field extends as well as in four other deepwater Ivorian blocks: CI-205, CI-501, CI-401 and CI-801, all with partner Petroci Holding.

08.28.2023