Anadarko Petroleum Corporation announced a light oil discovery at the Paon-1X exploration well offshore Côte d’Ivoire. The Paon-1X discovery well, located in the CI-103 block, encountered more than 100 net feet (31 meters) of oil pay (41 degrees API) in a Turonian-aged reservoir.

“The Paon well marks the first deepwater discovery in the CI-103 block offshore Côte d’Ivoire and opens up an entirely new play for the country and our partnership,” Anadarko Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Exploration, Bob Daniels said. “This discovery confirms the Upper Cretaceous fan system present in Ghana extends westward into Côte d’Ivoire and provides significant running room within the CI-103 block. We are very encouraged by these results and look forward to appraising this discovery and testing a number of other identified prospects on our acreage.”

The Paon-1X exploration well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 16,700 feet (5,090 meters), in water depths of approximately 7,195 feet (2,193 meters). The partnership plans to suspend the Paon-1X well for possible future use in appraisal and development operations.

Anadarko holds a 40-percent working interest in the CI-103 block. Additional partners include the operator, Tullow (45-percent working interest), and the Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de Côte d’Ivoire (Petroci) (15-percent working interest).