Eni has doubled its estimated size of a field offshore Congo after drilling a third exploration well. The company says it is planning first production from the field in 2016.
The well, Nene Marine 3, in the Marine XII Block, about 17km offshore Congo, was drilled in 28m water depth.
The well found a wet gas and light oil accumulation in the pre-salt clastic sequence, outlining a significant extension to the west of the reservoir and its hydraulic continuity, said Eni.
Nene Marine 3 is 2km from the discovery well, Nene Marine 1, and 4km from Nene Marine 2. During the production test in the oil interval, the well flowed more than 5000 b/d at 36° API gravity.
Following the results of the well, Eni estimates that the discovery of Nene Marine field contains 1.2 billion bbl and 30 billion cu ft of natural gas in place.
The overall potential of the Nene Marine and of the neighboring Litchjendilj Marine fields is estimated at about 2.5billion boe in place with "significant additional exploration upside," said Eni.
Nene Marine had been seen as an 600,000 boe field with potential upside, said analysts Investec.
Eni said it has notified its partners and is looking to ensure a rapid development of the field, with an aim to start first production in 2016.
Eni holds 65% of the Marine XII Block, with partners New Age (25%) and national company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC, 10%).
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