Baleine Phase 1

Baleine Phase 1 Oil and Gas Project Profile

The Baleine field is located offshore Côte d'Ivoire, within the Deep Tano Basin, specifically in blocks CI-101 and CI-802. The field is approximately 50 km off the coast of Abidjan, at water depths ranging from 200 to 2,500 meters.

The Baleine field was discovered in September 2021 through the drilling of the Baleine-1x well by the Saipem 10,000 drill ship. The well reached a total depth of 3,445 meters and discovered light oil (40° API) in two different stratigraphic levels.
Initial estimates suggested the field held between 1.5 and 2.0 billion barrels of oil and 1.8 to 2.4 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of associated gas. However, subsequent drilling, particularly at the Baleine East 1X well, increased the reserves to approximately 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 3.3 TCF of gas.

The project is being developed in three phases:
- Phase 1: Commenced production in August 2023. This phase involves three production wells tied back to the refurbished and upgraded Baleine FPSO (formerly Firenze FPSO). The FPSO has a processing capacity of 15,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil and around 25 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of associated gas.
- Phase 2: Expected to start by the end of 2024, increasing production to 50,000 bbl/d of oil and approximately 70 MMSCFD of associated gas.
- Phase 3: Aims to elevate field production to 150,000 bbl/d of oil and 200 MMSCFD of gas.

FPSO: The Baleine FPSO, refurbished and upgraded from the Firenze FPSO, has a storage capacity of 650,000 barrels, an unloading capacity of 520,000 barrels, and a produced water treatment capacity of 7,600 barrels per day. The vessel also has a draft of 5.5 meters and a maximum personnel on board (POB) of 76.
Subsea and Onshore Infrastructure: The project includes the installation of Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines (SURF) and an onshore gas pipeline for connection to the distribution grid. Saipem's flagship vessel FDS2 was involved in the offshore laying of these lines.
Gas Utilization: The gas produced will be delivered onshore through a newly constructed pipeline to meet domestic electricity market demands and facilitate regional energy supplies.

The Baleine project is notable for being the first emissions-free (Scope 1 and 2) production project in Africa. Eni has implemented various initiatives to minimize emissions, including offsetting residual emissions through projects such as distributing improved stoves to local communities and launching Nature-Based Solutions projects covering 380,000 hectares of protected forests.
Eni is also engaged in several community development projects in Côte d'Ivoire, including school refurbishments, teacher training, healthcare initiatives, and vocational training programs.

The project is operated by the Eni-Petroci consortium, with Eni holding an 83% stake and Petroci Holding owning the remaining 17%.
Saipem has been a key contractor, involved in the SURF installation, FPSO refurbishment, and other engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) activities. The contracts awarded to Saipem in September 2022 had a combined value of approximately €1 billion.

The Baleine field is expected to significantly boost Côte d'Ivoire's hydrocarbon production, increasing the country's crude oil production by 50% in the short term. Historically, Ivory Coast has averaged around 30,000 barrels per day, but this project will transform the country's energy landscape and strengthen its role as a regional energy hub.