Italy’s Eni said July 6 it has potentially discovered up to 700 million barrels of oil equivalent in place at the Eban exploration prospect offshore Ghana.

Located in CTP Block 4 in the Eban-Akoma complex about 8 km northwest of the Sankofa Hub, the Eban-1X well proved a single 80-m light oil column in a thick sandstone reservoir interval of Cenomanian age, Eni said in a press release. The well, drilled by the Saipem 10000 drillship, hit hydrocarbons at 3,949 m depth. The well reached a total measured depth of 4,170 m in a water depth of 545 m.

Eni said the discovery brings the estimated hydrocarbon in place between the Sankofa field and the Eban-Akoma complex to more than 1.1 Bboe. Upside could be confirmed with appraisal drilling.

“The new discovery has been assessed following comprehensive analysis of extensive 3D seismic datasets and well data acquisition including pressure measurements, fluid sampling and intelligent formation testing with state-of-the-art technology,” Eni said in the release. “The acquired pressure and fluid data (oil density and Gas-to-Oil Ratio) and reservoir properties are consistent with the previous discovery of Akoma and nearby Sankofa field.”

Deliverability potential is estimated at 5,000 bbl/d based on production testing data.

Given the discovery’s location near the John Agyekum Kufuor FPSO and existing infrastructure, Eni said the discovery can be fast-tracked to production with a subsea tie-in the FPSO.

“The Eban discovery is a testimony to the success of the infrastructure-led exploration strategy that Eni is carrying out in its core assets worldwide,” the company said.

Eban is the second well drilled in CTP Block 4 and follows the Akoma gas and condensate discovery.

Holding a 42.469% stake in the block, Eni serves as operator. Partners are Vitol (33.975%), Ghana National Petroleum Corp. (10%), Woodfields Upstream (9.556%), GNPC Explorco (4%).

 

Offshore