The Baleine-1X well was drilled by Eni, their first wildcat in Ivory Coast, as part of a global multi-year drilling campaign with the Saipem 10000. Baleine-1X was drilled in 1,200 m water to a TD of 3445 m on 1 September 2021.
The well targeted Cretaceous sands in the Transform Margin basin: probably a fan complex coming off the Baleine High and draped over the main pre-rift structure there. Vanco held the acreage in 2007 and just fell short of drilling this major prospect, supported by amplitude and a large ‘gas cloud’. In 2013 and 2014, Lukoil drilled the Capitaine East, Independence and Orca fields nearby, finding sub-commercial volumes of oil in Upper Cretaceous sands.
Eni have reported 40°API oil pay in the Santonian and the Cenomanian/Albian, with volumes in place of between 1.5 to 2 Bbo and between 1.8 and 2.4 Tcf associated gas, a major boost to the upstream sector for Ivory Coast.
Eni were awarded Blocks 205 and 101 in 2017 by direct negotiation. Vitol were reported to have farmed-in to Block 101 in September 2020; however, this did not appear to receive formal approval.
This exploration update is brought to you in association with NVentures.
