Ivory Coast announces new major offshore oil discovery, boosting energy ambitions
via Abidjan.net8 min read
Ivory Coast has made a significant new hydrocarbon discovery in the offshore CI-709 block, confirming the substantial potential of its sedimentary basin. This discovery resulted from the Bubale-1X exploration well, drilled to a total depth of 6,263 meters, including 2,400 meters of water depth, off the Ivorian coast. Preliminary technical data indicates approximately 30 meters of net oil column across two distinct reservoirs, with analyses revealing high-quality oil. Murphy C么te d鈥橧voire and PETROCI Holding, the entities responsible for the discovery, plan an evaluation campaign in the coming months, including a second well in the second half of 2026, to assess commercial potential and confirm exploitable volumes. This finding adds to recent discoveries in Ivorian waters, such as the Baleine and Calao blocks, and reinforces Ivory Coast's goal of becoming a leading African hydrocarbon producer by 2035.
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