Report: Production from Western Libya Gas Project to increase by 80% following completion of upgrades

The second phase development of the Bahr Essalam field, a part of the Western Libya Gas Project, is scheduled to begin in 2018, according to a report by GlobalData.

Titled 'Libya Western Libya Gas Project (Wafa and Bahr Essalam) Project Panorama – Oil and Gas Upstream Analysis Report', the report provides details of the Western Libya Gas Project and its future prospects.

Jointly owned by the Libyan National Oil Company and Eni, the Western Libya Gas Project includes the onshore Wafa field and the offshore Bahr Essalam field. Upgrades to maintain production levels of the project were completed in May. The upgrades included drilling of nine infill wells and installation of four new compressor units.

Eni plans to commence the second phase of development for Bahr Essalam and upgrade of existing facilities in 2018. The contract for platform modifications and subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines was awarded to Technip in May.

The political and security situation in Libya is a major concern for the development of the project as it is expected to have a continued effect on the hydrocarbon production in the area. A number of oil companies have already withdrawn their operations from the country except Eni, which reported gross production from its Libyan assets of 365,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boed) last year. An estimated 80% of the production came from the Western Libya Gas Project.

Despite the unrest, demand for gas for power generation in Libya is increasing, for which Eni is planning to undertake further exploration activities. The Bahr Essalam phase two is currently the company’s major project in Libya. Eni is focusing on redeveloping the field since the project uses existing infrastructure.

The project is expected to add 125,000boed of production for Eni during the forecast period.