U.S. energy company Murphy Oil Corporation has announced an oil discovery at the Bubale-1X exploration well in Block C1-709 offshore Ivory Coast, marking another step in the country’s expanding upstream development. The discovery reinforces Ivory Coast’s position as one of West Africa’s fastest-growing exploration destinations and supports its ambition to become one of Africa’s top five hydrocarbon producers by 2035.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC), as the voice of Africa’s energy sector, has welcomed the discovery, commending Murphy Oil and its partner Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI) for their continued investment in unlocking the country’s offshore potential. The Chamber said the discovery reflects the strength of Ivory Coast’s upstream framework, where stable fiscal terms and an exploration-led approach continue to support investor confidence and new resource additions across the basin.
Bubale-1X forms part of Murphy Oil’s three-well exploration campaign offshore Ivory Coast, alongside the Civette-1X and Caracal-1X prospects. The well, spudded in February 2026, encountered approximately 100 feet of net oil pay across two reservoirs and reached a total depth of 20,548 feet in water depths of 7,795 feet, further confirming the prospectivity of Block C1-709.
Murphy Oil will now proceed with appraisal activities, including an additional evaluation well planned for the second half of 2026 to better determine the extent and commercial potential of the discovery.
The find comes as Ivory Coast accelerates efforts 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 also aims to double the energy and mining sector’s contribution to GDP from 7% in 2022 to 14% by 2035, while establishing a sovereign wealth fund by 2030 to optimize long-term value from its natural resources.
The Bubale-1X discovery adds to growing exploration momentum across the offshore basin. Alongside developments such as Eni’s Baleine and Calao projects, and upcoming drilling campaigns by VAALCO Energy and CNR International in Block CI-40, as well as Petrobras’ planned multi-block offshore activities, the latest find underscores sustained investor appetite for Ivory Coast’s upstream sector.
“Every new discovery strengthens energy security, creates employment, generates government revenue and reinforces the country’s position as one of Africa’s premier exploration destinations,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “The Chamber commends Murphy Oil and PETROCI for their continued confidence in Ivory Coast’s offshore potential, as well as the country’s upstream strategy, which continues to attract international capital and support exploration-led growth.”
The Bubale-1X result further consolidates Ivory Coast’s emergence as a key West African offshore hub, with continued exploration activity expected to play a central role in supporting long-term production growth, investment inflows and regional energy security.
