Eni, in collaboration with PetroCi, has recently celebrated the sail away of the FPSO Firenze to the Baleine field located offshore Côte d'Ivoire in Dubai. The event was attended by high-profile figures, including the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy Côte of d'Ivoire.
The FPSO Firenze, which has been refurbished and upgraded, is expected to facilitate the start-up of production in the Baleine field. The Baleine field is currently the largest hydrocarbon discovery in Côte d'Ivoire, with an estimated oil in place of 2.5 billion barrels and 3.3 trillion cubic feet of associated gas. Furthermore, it is set to become Africa's first net-zero emission project in terms of Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The FPSO Firenze will be renamed Baleine upon its arrival in Cote d’Ivoire. It has the capacity to treat up to 15,000 bbl/d of oil and around 25 Mcfd/d of associated gas. The entire gas production will be delivered onshore via a newly built export pipeline. The installation of the subsea production system and well-completion campaign are already underway and are expected to ensure an accelerated start-up of production by June 2023.
Eni's phased development model and fast track have proven to be effective, with production set to begin in less than two years after the Baleine 1X discovery well and one and a half years after the FID. Eni is already moving forward with the second phase of the project, with production forecasted to start by December 2024 after the FID was taken in December 2022.
Eni is committed to sustainable development, and the Baleine field's net-zero emission project is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The company is also looking forward to contributing to the development of Côte d'Ivoire's hydrocarbon industry with the Baleine field and its other projects in the Ivorian deep water.
The Baleine field covers blocks CI-101 and CI-802, and Eni also has interests in four other blocks in the Ivorian deep water: CI-205, CI-501, CI-401, and CI-801, all in partnership with PetroCi Holding.