- Murene South-1X well confirms 5.0 Tcf gas and 450 million barrels of condensate in Block CI-501.
- The well was drilled to a depth of 5,000 meters in 2,200 meters of water.
- Block CI-501 is operated by Eni (90%) and Petroci Holding (10%).
- Baleine field's Phase 3 aims to increase production to 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Discovery Overview
Eni has made a significant gas and condensate discovery in Côte d'Ivoire with the Murene South-1X well, the first exploration well in Block CI-501. The discovery, named Calao South, confirms the potential of the Calao channel complex, which includes the Calao discovery. It is the second largest in the country after Baleine, with estimated volumes of up to 5.0 Tcf of gas and 450 million barrels of condensate.
Technical Details
The Murene South-1X well is located approximately 8km southwest of the Murene-1X discovery well in the adjacent CI-205 block. Drilled by the Saipem Santorini drilling ship, it reached a total depth of around 5,000 meters in a 2,200 meter water depth. The well confirmed a main hydrocarbon bearing interval with a gross thickness of around 50 meters, featuring excellent petrophysical properties.
Operational Partners
Block CI-501 is operated by Eni, holding a 90% stake, in partnership with Petroci Holding, which holds the remaining 10%. The well will undergo a full conventional drill stem test (DST) to assess the production capacity of the Calao discovery.
Future Production Plans
Currently, the Baleine field produces over 62 thousand barrels of oil and more than 75 million cubic feet of gas per day from Phases 1 and 2. With the launch of Phase 3, production is expected to rise to 150 thousand barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day, reinforcing Baleine as a key asset in meeting Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic energy needs.
