Eni North Africa, the Italian energy company, has resumed its exploration activities in the offshore area northwest of Libya, specifically in Block 16/4, after a hiatus of more than five years. This comeback includes re-entering the exploratory well C1-16/4 (also known as BESS-3), where drilling operations were previously halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ensco rig (4005) started drilling the C1-16/4 well on March 11, 2020, reaching a depth of 1,012 feet. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the well was secured and temporarily abandoned, leading to the rig’s decommissioning on April 14, 2020.

It’s important to mention that Saipem’s Scarabeo-9 rig is currently re-entering the well to complete drilling operations, aiming to reach the final planned depth of 10,520 feet (3,200 meters).

The exploratory well C1-16/4 is situated in Contract Area D, previously known as MN 41, in the offshore region northwest of Libya. It lies at a water depth of about 743 meters, approximately 95 kilometers from the Libyan coast and around 15 kilometers from the Bahr Es Salam gas field.

About Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC)

Established in 1970, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has been the backbone of the country’s energy sector for over five decades. As guardians of Libya’s vast oil and gas reserves, NOC is committed to sustainable resource development while maintaining it's position as a key player in the global energy market. NOC’s journey is defined by resilience, innovation, and strategic collaborations with international partners—strengthening Libya’s Energy.

About Eni

Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32,500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni's goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers.
In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni's areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy - a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.