Côte d’Ivoire’s Baobab field on the CI-40 block, offshore, operated by VAALCO Energy, is back online following the successful refurbishment of the Baobab Ivoirien Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel
The FPSO at Baobab, which ceased hydrocarbon operations in January 2025, successfully restarted production at the Baobab field on the CI-40 block, which was in line with the project timeline.
The FPSO returned to Côte d’Ivoire in early Q2 2026. Following a nine-month refurbishment in Dubai, it was moored into position and reconnected to the field infrastructure.
Baobab field FPSO refurbishment was undertaken to extend the life of the vessel and to ensure its long-term operational capacity, as a significant development drilling program at Baobab is planned to begin in the second half of 2026
Baobab field Production has resumed from four producing wells, with the remaining three producers expected to come online shortly; the field is performing in line with Vaalco’s expectations.
The Phase 5 drilling program is expected to include four producers, two to three injectors, and two workovers, providing potentially meaningful additions to production from the main Baobab field.
“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,“ George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer, commented.
“We are at a critical juncture, with successes in the Gabon drilling campaign and the Baobab field returning to production, and we believe the remainder of 2026 will be highly impactful. 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.”
