Eni: oil discovered in offshore well in Angola. Estimated 500 million barrels
The well, started on 10 January 2026, was drilled by the Saipem 12000 deepwater rig at a water depth of 667 metres
Eni confirms the discovery made in an exploratory well in offshore Angola with preliminary estimates of around 500 million barrels of oil. This is according to a note from the Italian energy giant. The 'major discovery' occurred in the Algaita-01 well in Block 15/06 about 18 km from the FPSO Olombendo (the floating production, storage and offloading unit).
The well, started on 10 January 2026, was drilled by the Saipem 12000 deepwater rig at a water depth of 667 metres. The well encountered oil-mineralised sandstones in different intervals of the Upper Miocene, characterised by excellent petrophysical properties, the release said. 'A comprehensive data acquisition campaign, including fluid sampling, confirmed the quality of the reservoir and fluid characteristics.
The presence of existing production infrastructure nearby 'further increases the value of the discovery and enhances its development prospects'. Block 15/06 is operated by Azule Energy (36.84%), in partnership with SSI (26.32%) and Sonangol E&P (36.84%). Azule Energy is controlled in equal parts by Eni and bp. "This success further confirms the strength of the Upstream portfolio in Angola," the note concludes.
