KEY POINTS
- Eni discovers estimated 5 Tcf of gas at Murene South 1X offshore Côte d’Ivoire
- Find ranks as country’s second largest hydrocarbon discovery after Baleine
- Discovery strengthens Côte d’Ivoire’s position as emerging West African gas hub
Eni has announced a major gas and condensate discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire, a find that could reshape the country’s energy outlook and reinforce its growing role in West Africa’s offshore sector.
The Italian energy company said its Murene South 1X well in Block CI 501 encountered high quality Cenomanian reservoir sands containing an estimated 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and up to 450 million barrels of condensate. In total, the resources are equivalent to roughly 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent in place.
The discovery, named Calao South, ranks as the second largest hydrocarbon find ever recorded in Côte d’Ivoire, behind only the Baleine field.
A deepwater find confirms broader potential
Murene South 1X was drilled to a total depth of about 5,000 meters in water depths of roughly 2,200 meters using the Saipem Santorini drillship. Eni said the well confirmed around 50 meters of gross hydrocarbon bearing interval with what it described as excellent petrophysical characteristics.
A full drill stem test is planned to assess flow rates and production capacity, a key step in determining the commercial viability of the discovery.
Block CI 501 is operated by Eni, which holds a 90 percent stake, while state owned Petroci Holding holds the remaining 10 percent. The new well lies about 8 kilometers southwest of the earlier Murene 1X discovery in neighboring Block CI 205, adding weight to the prospectivity of the wider Calao channel system.
Strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s energy ambitions
The discovery further cements Eni’s position as the leading upstream operator in Côte d’Ivoire, where it has been active since 2015. The company now holds interests in ten offshore blocks, including areas developed in partnership with Petroci Holding, Vitol and SOCAR.
Calao South builds on the success of the Baleine field, currently the backbone of the country’s offshore output. Baleine is producing more than 62,000 barrels of oil per day and over 75 million cubic feet of gas per day from its first two development phases.
Phase three of Baleine is expected to lift production to 150,000 barrels per day and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day, positioning the project as a regional supply anchor aimed at meeting rising domestic demand.
Regional impact and next steps
Calao South’s scale could significantly extend that growth trajectory. With multi trillion cubic feet of gas resources and substantial liquids content, the find enhances Côte d’Ivoire’s profile as an emerging gas province at a time when global markets remain focused on supply security and diversification.
Eni said the proximity of the new discovery to existing finds and infrastructure may help accelerate appraisal and development, potentially lowering project costs and improving overall economics.
The broader West African offshore sector has attracted renewed investor interest in recent years, supported by relatively stable fiscal terms and competitive development costs compared with other deepwater regions.
If upcoming tests confirm strong commercial flow rates, Calao South could become a cornerstone of Côte d’Ivoire’s future energy plans, supporting power generation, potential export projects and further cementing the country’s standing in the Gulf of Guinea.
