Murphy Oil Corporation has announced a significant offshore oil discovery at the Bubale-1X exploration well in Block CI-709, strengthening the company’s exploration portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire and reinforcing the hydrocarbon potential of the region’s deepwater acreage. Located around 40 miles offshore Côte d’Ivoire, the Bubale-1X well was drilled to a total depth of 20,548 feet (6,263 metres) in water depths of 7,795 feet (2,376 metres). The exploration well encountered approximately 100 feet (30 metres) of net oil pay across two separate reservoirs. Preliminary analysis indicates the presence of high-quality light crude oil, providing encouraging results for the ongoing exploration programme.
The discovery represents another milestone in Murphy Oil’s offshore exploration strategy and highlights the prospectivity of its operated acreage in West Africa. The company believes the results validate its disciplined exploration approach focused on identifying commercially attractive deepwater resources.
Commenting on the discovery, Eric Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Murphy Oil Corporation, said the early results from Bubale confirm the significant exploration potential of the company’s Côte d’Ivoire assets. He noted that the encouraging findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the company’s consistent and disciplined exploration programme. According to Hambly, Murphy’s immediate priority will now be to carry out further evaluation activities aimed at determining the full extent and commercial potential of the discovery.
The Bubale-1X well marks the completion of Murphy Oil’s current three-well offshore exploration campaign in Côte d’Ivoire. Building on the latest discovery, the company plans to enter the next phase of appraisal and evaluation. A follow-up exploration well is scheduled for the second half of 2026 to assess the lateral extent of the oil accumulation and gather additional geological and reservoir data.
Drilling operations at Bubale-1X commenced in late February 2026 under the leadership of Murphy CI-709 Oil Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation that serves as the operator of Block CI-709. Murphy holds a 90 percent working interest in the block, while Côte d’Ivoire’s national oil company, Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI), owns the remaining 10 percent stake.
The latest discovery further strengthens Murphy Oil’s international exploration portfolio, which includes offshore projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Vietnam, Canada and the Gulf of America, alongside significant onshore operations in North America. The company continues to focus on disciplined capital allocation, exploration success and long-term value creation through the development of high-quality oil and natural gas assets. With further appraisal planned later this year, the Bubale discovery is expected to play an important role in shaping Murphy Oil’s future exploration and development strategy in Côte d’Ivoire while contributing to the country’s growing offshore energy sector.
