Eni SPA is gradually restarting oil production connected with the Val d’Agri Oil Centre in Viggiano, Italy, which is the subject of a continuing investigation, the company said.
The resumption of production follows notification from a judge that the court lifted a seizure order on the plant in the southern part of the country. The National Mining Office for Hydrocarbons and Earth Resources of the Ministry of Economic Development also authorized the plant’s operation (OGJ Online, Aug. 1, 2016).
The field was closed in late March following the arrest of some Eni employees. The probe continues, but Eni said Aug. 12 it was “confident that it will be able to confirm the correctness of its actions.”
Eni reiterated that it will cooperate fully with the Court of Review while waiting on the outcome.
Executives said Eni used the downtime to carry out maintenance work at the oil field. Before the shutdown, the site produced 75,000 b/d, with most of that going to Eni. Royal Dutch Shell PLC also owns a stake in the field.
