VAALCO Energy Targets Second Quarter Restart for Baobab Oil Field Offshore Côte d’Ivoire
Houston-based oil producer VAALCO Energy is preparing to restart production at the Baobab deepwater oil field offshore Côte d’Ivoire in the second quarter of 2026 following completion of a scheduled refurbishment program. The Baobab field, located in block CI-40 off the Ivorian coast, has been offline since January 31, 2025, when its floating production, storage and offloading vessel was taken out of service for dry dock maintenance.
The FPSO, which completed its final crude oil liftings in early February 2025, was towed to a shipyard in Dubai where refurbishment work is currently underway. VAALCO has secured a drilling rig and is preparing for a development drilling campaign in 2026 expected to begin once the FPSO returns to the field. The company expects the drilling program to significantly boost production from the Baobab field and extend its productive life.
In addition to Baobab, VAALCO is evaluating future production from the nearby Kossipo field, also part of the CI-40 license. The planned restart comes as the company progressively refurbishes infrastructure and positions for additional development activity off Côte d’Ivoire’s coast, continuing efforts to enhance its West African oil assets.
Source: qcintel.com, Investegate, Vaalco Energy
