Italian energy giant Eni has commenced production from phase 2 of its Baleine project, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest oil and gas field.
This milestone brings production to 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) and 1.98 million cubic metres (70 million cubic feet) per day of associated gas. The announcement highlights Eni’s continued commitment to developing the Baleine field, discovered in 2021, which boasts estimated resources of 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 93.5 billion cubic metres (3.3 trillion cubic feet) of gas.
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The second phase introduces the Petrojarl Kong Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, working alongside the Yamoussoukro Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit for oil export. A key feature of this phase is the utilisation of a pipeline, constructed during phase 1, to channel all processed gas to meet local energy demand. This reflects Eni’s efforts to integrate domestic energy needs into the project’s operations, aligning with Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions to enhance energy security.
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Phase 1 of the project, which began in August 2023, employs the Baleine FPSO, with a production capacity of 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and 708,000 cubic metres (25 million cubic feet) of gas per day. With the successful deployment of phase 2, Eni has significantly increased production, setting the stage for future expansion.
Plans for a third phase are currently under evaluation. If realised, this phase will ramp up production to 150,000 bopd and 5.66 million cubic metres (200 million cubic feet) of associated gas per day. This multi-phase development underscores the strategic importance of the Baleine field to Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sector and positions it as a critical contributor to regional energy supply and economic growth.
