Houston-based Vaalco Energy has unveiled aggressive expansion plans across its African offshore operations, announcing significant developments in both Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon that signal a major push into the continent’s energy sectors.
In a dramatic move in Côte d’Ivoire’s Baobab field in Block CI-40, the FPSO Baobab has ceased hydrocarbon production as of January 31, 2025, marking the beginning of a comprehensive dry dock refurbishment project. After offloading its final crude oil in February, the vessel departed in late March and is currently being towed to Dubai for extensive renovations.
“In Côte D’Ivoire, we commenced the FPSO refurbishment project and are preparing for a drilling campaign in 2026 to augment the production and economic life of the Baobab field,” said George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer.
Simultaneously, Vaalco has expanded its footprint in the region by farming into the CI-705 block, where it now operates with a 70% working interest. Located in the prolific Tano basin approximately 70 kilometers west of the CI-40 block, the 2,300-square-kilometer area is believed to contain both oil and natural gas prospects.
In Gabon, the company is preparing for an ambitious 2025/2026 drilling program scheduled to begin in Q3 2025, having secured a drilling rig from Bor Drilling’s fleet last December. The program will target multiple development wells at the Etame platform and the Southeast Etame North Tchibala (SEENT) platform, while also planning re-drills and workovers in the Ebouri field.
The company recently conducted an extended flow test on the Ebouri 4-H well, gathering crucial data on hydrogen sulfide concentrations to aid equipment design and evaluate chemical crude sweetening processes. After four months of flow testing, H2S concentration levels are reported to be within modeling expectations.
Source: offshore-energy.biz
