Eni said its deepwater Calao South discovery confirms the potential of the Calao channel complex offshore Côte d'Ivoire.
Calao South, a significant gas and condensate discovery in high‑quality Cenomanian sands, was reported by Eni on 16 February following the Murene South‑1X well drilled in 2,200‑m water depth in Block CI‑501 offshore Côte d’Ivoire. The Saipem Santorini drillship drilled the well to about 5,000-m depth in Block CI-501.
The Murene South-1X exploration well is the first exploration well to be drilled in the block, and Eni named the discovery Calao South.
Eni originally reported finding the country’s second-largest discovery of about 1.4 billion BOE in March 2024 with the Murene-1X well.
Murene South-1X is about 8 km southwest of the original Murene-1X discovery well in adjacent Block CI-205.
The operator said the well underwent an extensive data acquisition campaign. It confirmed the main hydrocarbon-bearing interval with a gross thickness of about 50 m and had excellent petrophysical properties. Eni plans a full conventional drillstem test for Murene South-1X to assess the production capacity of the Calao discovery.
In July 2025, Eni said the original Calao discovery, once developed, could bring gas production up to 500 MMcf/D.
The company’s 2022 Baleine discovery, which is onstream, represents the country’s largest discovery. Phases 1 and 2 at Baleine together produce more than 62,000 BOPD and over 75 MMcf/D. Phase 3 is expected to increase output to 150,000 BOPD and 200 MMcf/D.
Phase 1 went online in August 2023, while Phase 2 started production in December 2024.
Eni operates Blocks CI-205 and CI-501 with the Calao and Calao South finds on behalf of partner Petroci Holding. The Baleine field straddles blocks CI-101 and CI-802, and Eni operates these blocks as well, also in partnership with Petroci Holding.
