Eni starts oil, gas production from Baleine field offshore Cote d’Ivoire
Italian energy company Eni has started production of oil and gas from the Baleine field, located in the waters offshore Cote d’Ivoire, the company announced on August 28.
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, Eni said.
Baleine currently stands as the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the Ivorian sedimentary basin. For the initial phase, production takes place through the Baleine FPSO, a refurbished and upgraded floating production storage and offloading unit capable of handling up to 15,000 barrels/d of oil and around 25mn ft3/d of associated gas.
The start of the second phase is expected by the end of 2024 and will increase field production to 50,000 b/d of oil and approximately 70mn ft3/d of associated gas. The third development phase aims to elevate field production up to 150,000 b/d of oil and 200mn fy3/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. This will enable the country to meet its domestic electricity market demands, facilitate energy access, and strengthen its role as a regional energy hub for neighbouring countries, Eni said.