Côte d'Ivoire advances offshore oil exploration

Côte d'Ivoire is expanding its offshore oil exploration efforts through a new seismic imaging project. The company TGS announced on October 20 that it will reprocess seismic data collected more than ten years ago to gain a clearer picture of the subsurface in the deep offshore areas of the country.

Seismic data covers large offshore area

The project involves reprocessing 14,691 km² of 3D seismic data acquired between 2014 and 2018 in the basins of Côte d'Ivoire and San Pedro. This effort is being conducted in collaboration with the Direction Générale des Hydrocarbures (DGH) and PETROCI, the National Petroleum Operations Company of Côte d'Ivoire.

Complex geology challenges seismic imaging

The deep waters of the region present complex geological conditions that make seismic imaging difficult. Variations in the speed of sound in the upper layers can obscure deeper oil and gas reservoirs. TGS's methods are expected to improve the clarity of these reservoirs.

Project timeline and expected benefits

The first images from the project are expected in the second quarter of 2027, with final images to be delivered in the fourth quarter of the same year. David Hajovsky, TGS's executive vice president, said the improved images will help oil companies better assess potential areas for exploration.

TGS has similar projects in West Africa

This project is part of a broader effort by TGS in West Africa, including a "2D-Cubed" seismic survey covering 19,500 km² off Côte d'Ivoire's coast, announced earlier this year. Several companies are already active in the region, including Petrobras, which signed production sharing contracts with the Ivorian government and PETROCI in September.

Petrobras leads exploration efforts

Petrobras, a Brazilian oil company, will lead exploration efforts in the Ivorian offshore with a 90% stake in the projects. The company’s president, Magda Chambriard, said the region is geologically similar to areas in Brazil, which she considers promising. However, TGS has not linked this project directly to Petrobras or specified the exact blocks involved.

Other companies also interested in Ivorian offshore

Other companies are also showing interest in the region. In February, ExxonMobil's subsidiary Esso received authorization to explore three offshore blocks for one year. Separately, Eni, PETROCI, and Vitol approved the third development phase of the Baleine oil field, which is expected to significantly increase oil production from 60,000 to 150,000 barrels per day.