Eni has started production of oil and gas from the Baleine Field, located in the waters offshore Côte d’Ivoire. 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 kb/d of oil and around 25 mcf/d (258 mcm/year) of associated gas. The start of Phase 2 is expected by the end of 2024 and will increase field production to 50 kb/d of oil and approximately 70 mcf/d (720 mcm/year) of associated gas. The third development phase aims to elevate field production up to 150 kb/d of oil and 200 mcf/d (2.1 bcm/year) 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.
Baleine, discovered in September 2021, is said to hold estimated reserves of 2.5 Gbl (335 Mt) of oil and 3.3 tcf (93.4 bcm) of associated gas. The Baleine East 1X well was drilled in the CI-802 block, operated by Eni (90%), together with the Ivorian state-owned national oil and gas company Petroci (10%). Eni owns interests in four other blocks in the Ivorian deepwater: CI-205, CI-501, CI-401 and CI-801, all with Petroci.