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Italian major Eni has announced the successful drilling and testing of the Baleine East-1X well within Block CI-802 offshore Côte d’Ivoire. This is the first well to be drilled in the block and targeting the Baleine structure discovered in 2021 in the adjacent Block CI-101. Results from the wells have allowed to increase the volumes of hydrocarbons in place at Baleine from 2bn barrels of oil and 2.4 Tcf of associated gas to 2.5bn barrels of oil and 3.3 Tcf of associated gas, Eni has revealed. The well is located 5km east of the Baleine-1X discovery well and reached final depth of 3,165m (measured depth) in water depth of some 1,150m. “From the vertical borehole a horizontal drain of 850 m in length was subsequently drilled into the reservoir to perform a production test that confirmed a potential of at least 12,000 bbl/d of oil and 14 Mscf/d of associated gas of production from the well Baleine East 1X,” Eni said. In order to achieve First Oil from Baleine’s by H1 2023, Eni will be drilling a third well on the structure. The company expects to produce 12,000 bopd and 17.5 MMscf/d from Phase 1 next year before ramping up to at least 75,000 bopd and 140 MMscf/d in a second phase due in 2026. Details on the ongoing development of the Baleine deepwater field are available in the “Projects” section within your Hawilti+ research terminal.
The Angolan Transport Ministry has awarded the 30-year concession for rail services and logistics support over the Lobito Corridor to the consortium of Trafigura (49.5%), Mota-Engil (49.5%), and Vecturis (1%). The Lobito Corridor is a key route that connects mines in the D.R. Congo to the Lobito Port in central Angola, from where commodities can be exported to global markets. Until now, exporting Congo’s copper, cobalt and metals required several weeks by connecting to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Beira in Mozambique, or as far as Durban in South Africa. The concession follows a competitive tender and can be extended by another 20 years after its initial period. “With increased dynamics in the transportation of minerals and other materials in the coming years and improved competitiveness of the rail system, it is expected that the Lobito Corridor could become the 3rd most important corridor in the SADC region by 2050,” Trafigura said in response to the award. The private consortium will operate, manage, and maintain the rail infrastructure that links the Port of Lobito to Luau in eastern Angola, next to the DRC border. Key commodities include minerals, liquids, gas, and cargo transport. A significant investment is notably expected into improving the infrastructure and rolling stock for freight operations to increase capacity.
