Houston-headquartered oil and gas company Murphy Oil has revealed a four-part operational sweep, anchored by offshore appraisal and exploration successes in Côte d'Ivoire and Vietnam, in combination with new assets coming online in Vietnamese and U.S. Gulf waters.
Murphy Oil Corporation has announced successful appraisal at the Bubale West-1X well offshore Côte d’Ivoire and an exploration discovery at the Lac Da Trang (White Camel) North-1X well offshore Vietnam.
The Bubale West-1X well in Block CI-103 offshore Côte d’Ivoire was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 19,357 feet (5,900 meters) in 9,039 feet (2,755 meters) of water and encountered approximately 88 feet (27 meters) of net oil pay in the Turonian reservoir.
The company emphasizes that additional hydrocarbons were also encountered in the deeper Albian reservoir. Preliminary analysis of logs and fluid samples indicates high-quality oil. The firm points out that information obtained from the well will be integrated with existing subsurface data to optimize the remaining appraisal program at Bubale.
Murphy’s subsidiary, Murphy CI-103 Oil, has an 85% working interest in Block CI-103 and serves as operator, with Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI) holding the remaining 15% working interest.
The U.S. firm shed more light on the exploration result at the Lac Da Trang North-1X well in Block 15-1/05, which encountered 131 feet (40 meters) of net oil pay. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 12,579 feet (3,834 meters) in 147 feet (45 meters) of water.
The American player and its partners will evaluate the Lac Da Trang North-1X data and assess potential appraisal and development options. The Lac Da Vang asset provides nearby infrastructure for a potential tie-back of the Lac Da Trang North discovery, creating a pathway to a capital-efficient, shorter-cycle development.
Murphy’s subsidiary, Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil, serves as the operator of Block 15-1/05, holding a 40% working interest, with PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation owning a 35% working interest and SK Earthon having the remaining 25%.
Meanwhile, the American firm also disclosed first oil from the Lac Da Vang (Golden Camel) field offshore Vietnam and production being brought on stream from the Chinook #8 development well in the Gulf of America (U.S. Gulf of Mexico).
The company achieved first oil from the Lac Da Vang field in Block 15-1/05 offshore Vietnam on September 27, 2026. The development is expected to ramp up through 2028 as additional wells are brought online, with net peak production of approximately 10-15 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in 2028-2029.
The achievement of the first oil is said to represent a major milestone in U.S. player’s Vietnamese strategy, establishing a new source of production and cash flow from the company’s offshore portfolio.
As the Chinook #8 development well in Walker Ridge Block 425 is now online and producing through the Pioneer floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) in the Cascade-Chinook field, consistent with pre-drill expectations, the well achieved an initial gross production rate of approximately 15 million boepd.
Murphy, through its subsidiaries, has an 86.7% working interest in Chinook #8, with Petrobras America holding the remaining 13.3% through its ownership interest in MP GOM.
Eric M. Hambly, Murphy’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), commented: “These achievements highlight Murphy’s ability to create value across exploration, appraisal and development.
“Bubale West-1X and Lac Da Trang North-1X further expand our resource potential, while development progress at Lac Da Vang and Chinook #8 demonstrate our ability to efficiently convert resources into production and cash flow. Together, these results strengthen our portfolio and position Murphy to create long-term shareholder value.”