Eni in new gas, condensate discovery offshore Congo

MILAN -- Eni has reported a new discovery of gas and condensates offshore Congo, in the Nkala Marine exploration prospect, in Block Marine XII, about 20 km from the coast and 3 km from the producing Nene Marine field.

The discovery, realized through the Nkala Marine 1 well, is expected to have a potential of 250-350 MMboe in place. During the production test, the well produced over 300,000 scmd of gas and associated condensates. The well, drilled in a water depth of 38 m, encountered a major gas and condensates buildup in the pre-salt clastic geological sequence of lower Cretaceous age, crossing a hydrocarbon column of 240 m.

Eni will now evaluate the Nkala Marine prospect through new delineation wells. In the meantime, Eni, together with its joint venture partners, will start studies on the discovery's commercial development.

The exploration of the pre-salt sequences continues to deliver new discoveries all along the West Africa margin and confirms the effectiveness of Eni’s exploration technologies, given the technical complexity of these plays. Eni estimates that discoveries in the pre-salt of Block Marine XII amount to approximately 5.8 Bboe. Production from the block, which began last December, is increasing, and it currently stands at around 15,000 boed.

Eni, through its subsidiary Eni Congo, is the operator of Block Marine XII, with a 65% stake. The other partners are New Age, with a 25% stake, and the Congolese state company Societé Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), with a 10% stake.