African oil field turns production switch back on after FPSO refurbishment

June 9, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Houston-based energy player Vaalco Energy has brought back online a field off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire, following an overhaul to extend the lifespan of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel deployed at the African asset.

Vaalco has confirmed the restart of production from the Baobab field on the CI-40 block, offshore Côte d’Ivoire, following the FPSO Baobab Ivoirien’s revamp after the vessel ceased hydrocarbon operations in January 2025.

George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are excited that the Baobab field on the CI-40 block offshore Côte d’Ivoire has restarted production in line with our projected timeline. We have the CI-40 block license extended through 2038 and believe that there is significant development drilling upside at Baobab.

“In early 2024, we had no assets in Côte d’Ivoire and now we have developed a strong position with development and exploration potential. We are at a critical junction, with successes in the Gabon drilling campaign and the Baobab field returning to production, and we believe that the remainder of 2026 will be very impactful.”

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Once the nine-month refurbishment was completed in Dubai, the FPSO returned to Côte d’Ivoire in early Q2 2026 to be moored in position and reconnected to the field infrastructure.

As a result, production has resumed from four producing wells, with the remaining three producers expected to come online shortly. The company claims that the field is performing in line with its expectations.

The FPSO refurbishment was undertaken to extend the vessel’s life and ensure its long-term operational capacity, as a significant development drilling program at Baobab is planned to begin in the second half of 2026.

This Phase 5 drilling program is expected to include four producers, two to three injectors, and two workovers, providing potential meaningful additions to production from the main Baobab field.

Maxwell emphasized: “We remain focused on execution and driving meaningful growth through our organic capital programs that we believe will translate into value for our shareholders in 2026 and beyond.”