Eni SPA plans to develop on a fast-track basis its offshore discoveries in the Sicilian Strait following test results of 170,000 cu m/day of natural gas from the Argo 2 well. The well is 20 km off Agrigento in 500 m of water.
The results confirm the adjacent Argo 1 gas discovery well drilled in 2006. Eni also found gas in deeper water in Argo 2. Panda and Cassiopeia fields are also nearby, and Eni plans to link them under its development plan.
In August Eni tested 190,000 cu m/day of gas from the Cassiopeia 1 well in 560 m of water 22 km off Agrigento. Cassiopeia’s reserves are estimated at 16 billion cu m.
Eni said the Sicilian Strait area potential is an estimated 18 billion cu m recoverable.
Eni is operator of Argo 2 with a 60% share, and its partner Edison SPA holds the remaining 40%.
Eni said the Argo 2 discovery will increase its 200,000 boe/d equity production in Italy.