Baker Hughes has been awarded a contract by Eni and its partner Petroci for the Baleine Phase 2 project in Ivory Coast, Africa’s first Scope 1 and 2 net-zero emissions development. The award includes eight deep water trees, three Aptara manifolds, the relevant subsea production control system, and flexible risers and jumpers.
The Baleine project is the largest finding of hydrocarbons made by an energy company in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the first commercial discovery made in the country, in the past 20 years. The project will allow the country to further increase domestic access to energy and strengthens Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a regional energy hub for neighboring countries. Currently, the country has one of the most widespread electric systems in Western Africa, the third after Nigeria and Ghana, with about 10% to 20% of the electric production being exported to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Togo, and Liberia. Baleine’s gas production will be strategic to increase the domestic and regional offerings, while the oil production will contribute to relaunching exports.
According to Eni, the development strategy will take place in phases. Phase 1 is expected to start in mid-2023. In order to enhance the field, the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) Firenze vessel will be used for Phase 1. It sailed from Dubai on April 6, 2023, where it had been docked and underwent refitting and upgrading to the latest technologies. Phase 2 is expected to start by the end of 2024, using an existing FPSO, which will be renovated to ensure an initial boost, optimizing costs and times, and minimizing raw and construction material waste. From the FPSO, directly connected to the production wells, the oil will be loaded onto tankers and transported to destination, while the gas will be sent across land to the Abidjan plant, through a dedicated gas pipeline, supplying the electric market in Côte d’Ivoire and the region.
“This collaboration between Baker Hughes and Eni is Africa’s first development project with clear Scope 1 and 2 carbon reduction goals and will deliver innovative technology that will enhance the energy security in Ivory Coast,” said Maria Claudia Borras, executive vice president of oilfield services and equipment at Baker Hughes. “Ensuring that energy is locally available is an increasingly profound challenge, and we applaud the efforts of Eni and companies like it to shape an abundant energy future for Africa. We are proud of the confidence placed in us to accelerate the execution of this important project.”
