ENI Discovers Potential Gas Reserves of 7 TCF and 300 Million Barrels of Condensate in the Kutai Basin
GAS INDUSTRY NEWS
Rio Indrawan (Dunia Energi)
4/20/2026
Italian oil and gas giant ENI announced a new major gas discovery through the Geliga-1 exploration well drilled in the Ganal Block in the Kutei Basin, offshore Indonesia, approximately 70 km off the coast of East Kalimantan. Initial estimates indicate in-place resources of approximately 5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas and 300 million barrels of condensate in the penetrated interval.
According to ENI, the Geliga-1 well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 5,100 meters in water depths of approximately 2,000 meters and encountered a significant gas column in the Miocene target interval, characterized by excellent petrophysical properties. A Drill Stem Test (DST) is planned to assess reservoir productivity. The Geliga-1 discovery is part of the positive results of exploration activities in the Kutei Basin and follows the giant Geng North discovery in late 2023, just 20 km south of Geliga, and the more recent Konta-1 well discovery announced in December 2025.
The Geliga-1 discovery also follows the recent Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) for the Gendalo and Gandang gas projects (South Hub), as well as for the Geng North and Gehem fields (North Hub).
The North Hub project will utilize a new FPSO with a capacity of 1 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) of gas and 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate, along with the existing Bontang LNG Plant facilities.
ENI will continue its analysis to evaluate accelerated development options, taking into account proximity to existing and planned infrastructure, which offers potential synergies in terms of accelerated time-to-market and cost optimization.
This new discovery is adjacent to the undeveloped Gula gas discovery (2 Tcf of gas in place with 75 million barrels of condensate). Initial assessments indicate that the combined Geliga and Gula resources have the potential to produce an additional 1 bscfd of gas and 80,000 bpd of condensate, opening up opportunities, among other things, to rapidly establish a third production hub in the Kutei Basin, replicating the development concept of the ongoing North Hub project.
Studies are also underway to evaluate further revitalization of the Bontang facility by adding liquefaction capacity beyond that already planned for the North Hub development, thereby extending the refinery's operational life.
In the past six months, ENI has successfully drilled four other exploration wells in the same basin. The exploration campaign will continue with one additional well planned for 2026 and two more wells for 2027.
The Geliga-1 discovery is located within the Ganal PSC, which is operated by ENI with an 82% interest, while Sinopec holds the remaining 18%. The Ganal PSC is part of a portfolio of 19 blocks (14 in Indonesia and 5 in Malaysia) that will be contributed to Searah, a jointly controlled company announced in November 2025 by ENI and Petronas.
The new company will integrate assets, technical expertise, and financial capacity to support growth and strengthen its position in Southeast Asia.
The plan includes the development of approximately 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) from discovered resources and unlocks significant exploration potential.
Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2026. A third-party valuation process for the 10% stake in ENI Indonesia's portfolio not included in the "Searah" transaction is underway and is expected to be completed in 2026. The Geliga discovery adds value to the sale.
Italian oil and gas giant ENI announced a new major gas discovery through the Geliga-1 exploration well drilled in the Ganal Block in the Kutei Basin, offshore Indonesia, approximately 70 km off the coast of East Kalimantan. Initial estimates indicate in-place resources of approximately 5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas and 300 million barrels of condensate in the penetrated interval.
According to ENI, the Geliga-1 well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 5,100 meters in water depths of approximately 2,000 meters and encountered a significant gas column in the Miocene target interval, characterized by excellent petrophysical properties. A Drill Stem Test (DST) is planned to assess reservoir productivity. The Geliga-1 discovery is part of the positive results of exploration activities in the Kutei Basin and follows the giant Geng North discovery in late 2023, just 20 km south of Geliga, and the more recent Konta-1 well discovery announced in December 2025.
The Geliga-1 discovery also follows the recent Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) for the Gendalo and Gandang gas projects (South Hub), as well as for the Geng North and Gehem fields (North Hub).
The North Hub project will utilize a new FPSO with a capacity of 1 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) of gas and 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate, along with the existing Bontang LNG Plant facilities.
ENI will continue its analysis to evaluate accelerated development options, taking into account proximity to existing and planned infrastructure, which offers potential synergies in terms of accelerated time-to-market and cost optimization.
This new discovery is adjacent to the undeveloped Gula gas discovery (2 Tcf of gas in place with 75 million barrels of condensate). Initial assessments indicate that the combined Geliga and Gula resources have the potential to produce an additional 1 bscfd of gas and 80,000 bpd of condensate, opening up opportunities, among other things, to rapidly establish a third production hub in the Kutei Basin, replicating the development concept of the ongoing North Hub project.
Studies are also underway to evaluate further revitalization of the Bontang facility by adding liquefaction capacity beyond that already planned for the North Hub development, thereby extending the refinery's operational life.
In the past six months, ENI has successfully drilled four other exploration wells in the same basin. The exploration campaign will continue with one additional well planned for 2026 and two more wells for 2027.
The Geliga-1 discovery is located within the Ganal PSC, which is operated by ENI with an 82% interest, while Sinopec holds the remaining 18%. The Ganal PSC is part of a portfolio of 19 blocks (14 in Indonesia and 5 in Malaysia) that will be contributed to Searah, a jointly controlled company announced in November 2025 by ENI and Petronas.
The new company will integrate assets, technical expertise, and financial capacity to support growth and strengthen its position in Southeast Asia.
The plan includes the development of approximately 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) from discovered resources and unlocks significant exploration potential.
Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2026. A third-party valuation process for the 10% stake in ENI Indonesia's portfolio not included in the "Searah" transaction is underway and is expected to be completed in 2026. The Geliga discovery adds value to the sale.
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