Eni has announced two new gas discoveries offshore Libya following an exploration campaign carried out in recent months.
The finds are located within two nearby geological structures, Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS 2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (BESS 3). These were confirmed through drilling activities at the B2-16/4 and C1-16/4 wells, positioned around 85 km offshore in water depths of approximately 650 feet and about 16 km south of the Bahr Essalam gas field.
Both wells intersected gas bearing zones within the Metlaoui Formation, which is recognised as the primary producing reservoir in the region. Analysis of the data suggests a high quality reservoir, with strong productivity already verified through testing conducted on the first well.
Initial estimates indicate that the combined gas resources of the BESS 2 and BESS 3 structures exceed 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). Their close location to the Bahr Essalam field, Libya’s largest offshore gas field, operational since 2005, means development can be fast tracked by linking the discoveries to existing offshore infrastructure. The extracted gas is expected to serve both domestic demand in Libya and exports to Italy.
Eni has maintained a long standing presence in Libya since 1959 and remains the country’s leading international energy operator. In 2025, the company reported equity production of approximately 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and is currently advancing three development projects, with two scheduled to come online in 2026.
