Eni North Africa has resumed Libya’s offshore oil exploration in Block 16/4 after more than five years of suspension. The project is located at the coast, northwest of Libya, and is headed by a regional subsidiary of Italian energy giant Eni. Moreover, it is responsible for managing the company’s oil and gas operations in North African countries with major focus on Libya. The company is re-entering the C1-16/4 exploratory well, known as BESS-3. The company aims to complete drilling to its planned final depth of 10,520 feet (3,200 meters). Drilling on the C1-16/4 well originally began on March 11, 2020.
However, operations were halted shortly after due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial drilling reached 1,012 feet before the well was temporarily abandoned on April 14, 2020. The C1-16/4 well is located in Contract Area D (MN-41), approximately 95 kilometers offshore from the Libyan coast. It is situated about 15 kilometers from the Bahr Es Salam gas field, one of Libya’s largest producing gas fields. The project will benefit from the construction of other energy projects in the country such as the Nigeria-Libya gas pipeline project.
Project Factsheet
Significance:
- Marks the revival of offshore oil exploration in Libya after a five-year suspension.
- Reinforces Eni’s long-standing role as Libya’s leading international oil and gas operator.
- Aims to unlock new hydrocarbon potential in the Mediterranean basin.
- Strengthens Libya’s energy production capacity and contributes to European gas supply security.
Infrastructure:
- Exploration underway in Block 16/4, Contract Area D (MN-41), approximately 95 km offshore northwest Libya.
- The C1-16/4 (BESS-3) exploration well is targeting a total depth of 10,520 ft (3,200 m).
- Situated around 15 km from the Bahr Es Salam gas field, one of Libya’s largest producing offshore gas hubs.
- Drilling originally began in March 2020 but was suspended in April 2020 after reaching a depth of 1,012 ft due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Developer/Consortium:
- Operated by Eni North Africa, an Italian energy giant Eni S.p.A.’s local subsidiary.
- Executed in partnership with Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC).
- Impacts Eni and NOC’s technical and environmental audits follow-up.
Funding/Timeline:
- Project commenced in March 2020; suspended in April 2020 due to the pandemic.
- Drilling operations officially restarted in 2025 following environment and security approvals.
Anticipated to advance Libya’s offshore production
Significance of Libya’s Offshore Oil Exploration Project by Eni
The resumption of Libya’s offshore oil exploration by Eni has a monumental impact in the country’s energy sector. For instance, it signals renewed momentum in offshore exploration in Libya as Eni strengthens its presence. Furthermore, it unlocks new hydrocarbon potential in the Mediterranean basin. Eni has been a key player in Libya’s energy sector since the 1950s and remains the country’s largest international oil and gas operator.
The company is a major producer of natural gas in Libya, supplying both domestic needs and exports to Europe via the Greenstream pipeline. The NOC said in a statement that the move follows the completion of technical and environmental assessments. It noted that the work will cover offshore areas in northwestern Libya. It is the place where survey operations had been halted due to security concerns and instability.
