Italian Eni has made a new light oil discovery in Block 15/06, offshore Angola, with an expected production capacity of about 10,000 barrels of oil per day (bbl/d), according to Eni’s press release.

The well (Cuica-1 NFW) has been drilled on the Cuica exploration prospect located inside the Cabaça Development Area and close to the Armada Olombendo FPSO (East Hub), in a water depth of 500 meters, and a total vertical depth of 4100 meters.

An 80 meters total column of reservoir of light oil (38°API) has been encountered in sandstones of Miocene age, with good petrophysical properties.

The new discovery well is going to be sidetracked updip to be placed in an optimal position as a producer well and it is  estimated to contain between 200 and 250 million barrels of oil in place (mmbbl).

According to Eni, Cuica is the second significant oil discovery inside the existing Cabaça development area. The well-head location which is intentionally placed close to East Hub’s subsea network, will allow a fast-track tie-in of the exploration well. Production is expected to start within six months.

Cuica is also the first commercial discovery in block 15/06 since the COVID-19 pandemic and the oil price drop in 2020. The company has received a three-year extension for the exploration period of Block 15/06 till November 2023.

It should be mentioned that the Block 15/06 joint venture (JV) consists of Eni the operator with 36.8421%, Sonangol P&P with 36.8421%, and SSI Fifteen Ltd with 26.3158%.