January 02, 2025 [Oil Price]- Italian energy major Eni has started production from the second phase of its oil and gas development Baleine offshore Cote d’Ivoire, boosting output from the field in West Africa.

This weekend, Eni announced the successful start-up of Phase 2 at the Baleine field, which will raise production to 60,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 70 million cubic feet of associated gas (equivalent to 2 million cubic meters).

Phase 2 is being developed via the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) Petrojarl Kong which is deployed alongside the Floating Storage and Offloading Unit (FSO) Yamoussoukro for the export of oil. All processed natural gas will supply local energy demand through a connection with the pipeline built during the project’s Phase 1, the Italian company said.

Eni last year launched oil and gas production from the Baleine field, less than two years after the discovery. The Phase 1 development used a refurbished and upgraded FPSO unit capable of handling up to 15,000 barrels per day of oil and around 25 Mscf/d of associated gas.

The Italian major is currently studying the development of Phase 3 at Baleine. If approved and implemented, the third stage would boost the field’s production to 150,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million cubic feet of associated gas.

This would further consolidate Cote d’Ivoire’s role “as a regional energy hub and strengthening strategic collaboration with the local partner,” Eni said.

Eni has been betting on international oil and gas developments offshore Africa in recent years and has recently strengthened its presence in Cote d’Ivoire.

In November, the Italian firm signed the contracts for the acquisition of four new exploration blocks offshore Cote d’Ivoire with the local Ministry of Mines, Oil and Energy. Under the agreements, Eni will be able to explore the area for up to 9 years.

The new blocks are close to the Calao discovery, which represents a strategic opportunity to create further synergies in the area, Eni says.

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