Italian oil and gas firm, Eni, lead operator of the Offshore Cape Three Point (OCTP) in the Republic of Ghana has announced a significant oil discovery with the potential to produce 700 million barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe).

The company, in a statement, said the discovery was made on the Eban exploration prospect in Cape Three Points Block 4, offshore Ghana, and production testing data shows a well deliverability potential estimated at 5,000 barrels of oil per day, similar to the wells already in production from the Sankofa Field.

“The Eban – 1X well is located approximately 50 kilometers off the coast and about eight kilometers Northwest of Sankofa Hub, where the John Agyekum Kufuor FPSO is located. It was drilled by the Saipem 10000 drilling ship in a water depth of 545 meters and reached a total depth of 4179 meters (measured depth). Eban – 1X proved a single light oil column of approximately 80m in a thick sandstone reservoir interval of Cenomanian age with hydrocarbons encountered down to 3949m (true vertical depth),” the statement said.

“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. 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. The production testing data shows a well deliverability potential estimated at 5000 bopd, similar to the wells already in production from Sankofa Field.

“The estimated hydrocarbon in place between the Sankofa field and the Eban-Akoma complex is now in excess of 1.1 Bboe and further oil in place upside could be confirmed with an additional appraisal well.”

The statement further disclosed that due to its proximity to existing infrastructures, “the new discovery can be fast-tracked to production with a subsea tie-in to the John Agyekum Kufuor FPSO, with the aim to extend its production plateau and increase production. 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 Joint Venture of CTP Block 4 is operated by Eni (42.469 percent), on behalf of partners Vitol (33.975 percent), GNPC (10 percent), Woodfields (9.556 percent), GNPC Explorco (4.00 percent).