US Oil Firm Murphy Makes New Offshore Oil Discovery in Côte d'Ivoire

US-based Murphy Oil has recorded a significant offshore oil discovery in Côte d’Ivoire. The find adds momentum to the West African country’s efforts to grow its hydrocarbon sector and become one of Africa’s leading producers.

The company announced that its Bubale-1X exploration well in Block CI-709 encountered about 30 metres of net oil pay across two reservoirs. Early assessment indicates the presence of high-quality light crude.

This marks the first commercial success in Murphy’s current three-well drilling campaign in Côte d’Ivoire. The well was drilled approximately 40 miles offshore to a total depth of 20,548 feet in water depths of 7,795 feet. Murphy CI-709 Oil Co., a subsidiary, operates the block with a 90 percent working interest. State-owned PETROCI holds the remaining 10 percent.

The discovery follows two earlier unsuccessful wells in the campaign. The Civette-1X well on Block CI-502 and the Caracal-1X well on Block CI-102 both encountered hydrocarbons but did not meet commercial thresholds. Those results nevertheless helped confirm an active petroleum system in the basin.

Murphy Oil President and Chief Executive Eric Hambly welcomed the outcome. He said early results at Bubale reinforce the prospectivity of the company’s acreage in Côte d’Ivoire and underscore the value of a disciplined exploration approach. The company plans to drill an appraisal well in the second half of 2026 to determine the discovery’s full potential.

Côte d’Ivoire has seen renewed interest from international oil companies in recent years. Once primarily known for cocoa, the country is now positioning itself as an emerging energy player in West Africa.

The upstream sector gained major traction after Italian firm Eni made the Baleine discovery in 2021, the largest in the country’s history. Eni followed with the Calao discovery, further attracting investors.

The government targets oil production of around 200,000 barrels per day by 2027 and 500,000 barrels per day by 2035. Current output stands at roughly 60,000 barrels per day.

Other companies such as VAALCO Energy, CNR International and Petrobras have also shown interest in the country’s offshore blocks. This growing competition highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s rising profile as one of Africa’s fastest-growing oil frontiers.

For Murphy Oil, the Bubale discovery supports its reserve replacement strategy and broader multi-basin portfolio. The company holds assets in the United States, Canada and Vietnam.

The latest find strengthens Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions to develop a robust energy sector. If appraisal confirms commercial volumes, Bubale could contribute to a pipeline of projects that help transform the country into a significant African oil producer.