Libyan Gas Field Expansion Work Ends

Italy’s Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corp. (NOC) are wrapping up work on the second stage of the offshore Bahr Essalam gas project.

Production at the field’s ninth well kicked off earlier this month, NOC said in a July 31 statement, while work on a final well is underway.

Located 120 km northwest of Tripoli, the Bahr Essalam field hosts more than 260bn m³ of gas, according to Eni. Second-phase development of the site aims to raise annual output by 4.13bn m³ to a plateau of around 11.4bn m³.

Eni and NOC operate the project through their 50:50 joint venture Mellitah Oil & Gas. The pair took a final investment decision (FID) on the field’s second phase in 2015, bringing the expansion's first well under on stream in July last year.

NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla described the phase-two project as testament to NOC’s successful co-operation with international players and its ability to drive investment in Libyan energy, despite the country’s ongoing civil war. Libya has continued to export natural gas, despite suffering steep declines in production since its 2011 revolution.