Italy’s Eni SPA has made a natural gas and condensate discovery in the Nyonie Deep exploration prospect on Block D4 about 13 km offshore Gabon, 50 km from the capital city of Libreville.
The discovery was made in the presalt of Gabon with the NFW Nyonie Deep 1 well, which was drilled in 28 m of water to a total depth of 4,314 m. The well encountered a thick (320-m) hydrocarbon-bearing section in the presalt clastic sequence of Aptian age. The structure, which extends more than 40 sq km, covers two offshore exploration blocks, both operated by Eni with a 100% stake.
Preliminary estimates suggest the gas find is “significant,” Eni said, with initial potential in place estimated at 500 million boe.
The discovery will be followed by an appraisal campaign to assess its potential, Eni said, which is to be carried out shortly. In the meantime, Eni will begin studies for the potential commercial exploitation of the field.
The discovery is the outcome of Eni’s exploration campaign that the company is carrying out in West Africa’s promising presalt plays. This is the third field to be discovered recently in shallow waters in such plays, after Nene Marine and Litchendjili Marine offshore Congo (Brazzaville) (OGJ Online, Feb. 13, 2014).
The total estimated potential of these discoveries is about 3 billion boe, Eni said.