Gas
Eni strikes gas in Libya with two major offshore discoveries
The acquired data indicate the presence of a high-quality reservoir
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By ICN Bureau | March 17, 2026
Italian oil and gas major Eni has announced two significant gas discoveries off the Libyan coast, the result of an exploration campaign launched in recent months.
The finds were made in two adjacent structures—Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS 2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (BESS 3)—successfully drilled by the B2-16/4 and C1-16/4 wells. Located roughly 85 km offshore in 650 feet of water and 16 km south of the Bahr Essalam gas field, both wells tapped gas-bearing intervals in the Metlaoui Formation, the area’s main productive reservoir.
“The acquired data indicate the presence of a high-quality reservoir, with productive capacity confirmed by the well test already carried out on the first well,” Eni said.
Preliminary estimates suggest that BESS 2 and BESS 3 together hold more than 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. Their close proximity to the Bahr Essalam field—the country’s largest offshore gas field in operation since 2005—will allow rapid development through tie-back to existing facilities. The gas will supply both the Libyan domestic market and exports to Italy.
Eni, present in Libya since 1959, remains the country’s leading international operator. “Our equity production reached approximately 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025, and three development projects are currently in execution, two of which will start up in 2026,” the company said.
