Eni SPA started gas production from Italy’s offshore Argo Cassiopea fields.
Currently, initial test production is from one of four subsea wells drilled in recent months in the Strait of Sicily. The gas is transported through a 60 km subsea pipeline to the Gela processing plant (OGJ Online, Aug. 2, 2022). From there it will be processed and fed into the national grid.
The remainder of the wells and associated infrastructure are expected to be brought online, tested, and commissioned over the coming months.
Argo Cassiopea started production just 3 years after the start of works. Production is carried out entirely under the sea, with no visual impact and near-zero emissions, Eni said. A dedicated installation of 3.6 Mw peak of photovoltaic panels will help the project achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the operator continued.
Argo Cassiopea's reserves are estimated at about 10 billion cu m (bcm) of gas with 1.5 bcm expected peak annual gas production.
Eni is operator at Argo Cassiopea (60%) with partner Energean PLC (40%). Cassiopea field is part of the portfolio that Energean is selling to Carlyle International Energy Partners (OGJ Online, June 21, 2024).
