Murphy Oil Discovery Strengthens Côte d’Ivoire’s Offshore Growth

Murphy Oil Corporation has reported a new offshore oil discovery in Côte d’Ivoire, adding further momentum to exploration activity in one of West Africa’s most closely watched upstream markets.

The discovery was made at the Bubale-1X exploration well in Block C1-709, where drilling encountered approximately 100 feet of net oil pay across two reservoir intervals. The result provides additional evidence of the basin’s hydrocarbon potential and supports Côte d’Ivoire’s strategy to significantly expand oil and gas production over the coming decade.

Drilled as part of Murphy Oil’s three-well exploration programme, which also includes the Civette-1X and Caracal-1X prospects, Bubale-1X reached a total depth of 20,548 feet in water depths of 7,795 feet. The well was spudded in February 2026 and is expected to form the basis for further appraisal activity later this year.

Murphy Oil and its partner, Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI), are planning an additional evaluation well during the second half of 2026 to assess the size and commercial viability of the accumulation.

Industry stakeholders view the discovery as another positive indicator for Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore sector, which has attracted increasing levels of international investment following a series of successful exploration campaigns. The country’s regulatory framework, competitive fiscal terms and proactive approach to resource development continue to position it as a preferred destination for upstream capital.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomed the announcement, highlighting the role of sustained exploration in driving economic growth, strengthening energy security and enhancing government revenues.
According to the Chamber, the latest discovery reflects growing confidence in the country’s upstream sector and reinforces the effectiveness of policies designed to encourage long-term investment in exploration and production activities.

The find arrives as Côte d’Ivoire pursues ambitious energy-sector targets. Authorities are seeking to increase crude oil production to 500,000 barrels per day and natural gas output to one billion cubic feet per day by 2035. The government is also targeting a doubling of the energy and mining sector’s contribution to national GDP, from 7% in 2022 to 14% by 2035, while advancing plans for a sovereign wealth fund intended to maximise long-term returns from natural resource development.

Bubale-1X joins a growing list of notable offshore successes in the country. Major developments, including Eni’s Baleine and Calao projects, have already elevated Côte d’Ivoire’s profile within the regional energy landscape. Additional exploration campaigns planned by VAALCO Energy, CNR International and Petrobras are expected to sustain drilling activity and further test the basin’s resource potential.

The latest result strengthens the case for continued investment in Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore acreage and underscores the country’s emergence as a key upstream growth market in West Africa. With multiple operators advancing exploration and development programmes, the sector is increasingly positioned to support long-term production growth, economic diversification and regional energy security.