Murphy Oil confirms Bubale-1X offshore oil discovery in Côte d’Ivoire, boosting West Africa’s rising production outlook
U.S.-based Murphy Oil has announced a new offshore oil discovery in Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing the country’s growing profile as an emerging hydrocarbon producer in West Africa.
The company said its Bubale-1X exploration well in Block CI-709 encountered around 100 feet (approximately 30 metres) of net oil pay across two reservoirs.
Early assessments indicate the presence of high-quality light crude, marking Murphy’s first commercial discovery in its current Côte d’Ivoire drilling campaign.
The well was drilled about 40 miles offshore in water depths of 7,795 feet, reaching a total depth of 20,548 feet. It was operated by Murphy CI-709 Oil Co., a subsidiary of Murphy Oil, which holds a 90% working interest in the block, while state-owned PETROCI holds the remaining 10%.
The discovery follows two earlier exploratory wells in the company’s campaign that did not result in commercial finds.
The Civette-1X well on Block CI-502 confirmed hydrocarbons but was deemed non-commercial, while the Caracal-1X well on Block CI-102 also encountered oil and gas without meeting development thresholds.
Despite those outcomes, Murphy said the earlier wells helped improve geological understanding of the basin and confirmed an active petroleum system, ultimately contributing to the success of Bubale-1X.
Murphy Oil President and CEO Eric Hambly said the results reinforce confidence in the company’s offshore acreage in Côte d’Ivoire and highlight the value of a disciplined exploration strategy.
He added that the company will now focus on evaluating the discovery’s full potential.
Murphy plans to drill an appraisal well in the second half of 2026 to determine the size, quality, and commercial viability of the find.
The discovery comes as Côte d’Ivoire continues to attract increasing attention from global oil companies.
Long known for its agricultural exports, particularly cocoa, the country is now positioning itself as a rising offshore oil and gas hub in West Africa.
The sector has gained momentum following major discoveries such as Eni’s Baleine field in 2021, the largest hydrocarbon find in the country’s history, followed by the Calao discovery, which further strengthened investor interest in the basin.
Côte d’Ivoire is targeting production growth from around 60,000 barrels per day to approximately 200,000 barrels per day by 2027, supported by new offshore developments. Longer-term government plans aim for output of 500,000 barrels per day and more than one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2035.
This expansion would position the country among Africa’s leading oil producers and deepen its role as a key energy hub in Francophone West Africa.
Other international operators, including VAALCO Energy, CNR International, and Petrobras, are also increasing activity in the basin, reflecting growing competition for offshore exploration opportunities.
For Murphy Oil, the Bubale-1X discovery supports its broader global portfolio strategy spanning the United States, Canada, and Vietnam.
For Côte d’Ivoire, it adds further momentum to a rapidly developing offshore oil narrative that is increasingly extending beyond a single major operator.
