Côte d’Ivoire is accelerating efforts to reduce offshore exploration risk through advanced seismic data processing, as the country seeks to attract investment and expand oil production capacity over the next decade.
On Tuesday, geoscience company TGS announced the launch of a 19,500-square-kilometre offshore seismic interpretation project in partnership with state-owned Petroci and the country’s Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.
The initiative is designed to enhance subsurface imaging using advanced data analytics rather than new offshore seismic acquisition, marking a cost-efficient approach to exploration in mature datasets.
Data-driven exploration approach
The project relies on the “2D-Cubed” methodology, which converts existing two-dimensional seismic data into three-dimensional subsurface models, allowing for improved geological interpretation of offshore basins.
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According to TGS, the approach enables energy companies to refine exploration targets while reducing the need for expensive new seismic surveys.
The dataset draws on seismic information collected between 2006 and 2014, which was later reprocessed in 2024 using advanced imaging technologies, including Pre-Stack Depth Migration techniques.
In total, the project integrates approximately 14,800 kilometres of seismic lines, providing a more detailed understanding of Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore geology.
Targeting hydrocarbon potential
The objective of the project is to improve identification of Cretaceous-age petroleum systems and to map potential structural and stratigraphic traps across key offshore zones.
Industry stakeholders expect the refined dataset to play a critical role in reducing exploration uncertainty and supporting future investment decisions in the upstream oil and gas sector.
TGS said it expects to deliver final results in the third quarter of 2026 and plans to market the dataset to energy companies under a multi-client licensing model.
Supporting broader energy ambitions
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy by Ivorian authorities to position the country as a competitive offshore oil and gas destination in West Africa.
While no new licensing round has yet been announced, authorities continue to encourage exploration activity in existing or recently awarded offshore blocks.
Petroci and government regulators are working with international partners to improve the quality of geological information available to investors, with the aim of reducing upfront exploration risk and encouraging deeper offshore investment.
Production growth targets
The data push aligns with Côte d’Ivoire’s long-term production ambitions. According to industry estimates, the country is targeting output of around 200,000 barrels per day by 2030, rising to 500,000 barrels per day by 2035.
These projections are supported by recent discoveries such as the Baleine and Calao fields, which have strengthened confidence in the country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential.
Investment and exploration outlook
Energy analysts say improved seismic imaging could play a key role in unlocking additional reserves by making exploration more efficient and less capital-intensive.
Multi-client seismic models are increasingly used across emerging oil provinces to attract a broader pool of investors ahead of licensing rounds, particularly in frontier or underexplored basins.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the challenge will be translating improved geological data into sustained exploration activity and eventual production growth, while balancing investment incentives with resource governance.
As global energy companies continue to reassess upstream opportunities in Africa, the success of data-driven exploration strategies may determine how quickly new offshore discoveries can be commercialized.
Côte d’Ivoire has been steadily expanding its offshore oil and gas sector over the past decade, positioning itself as one of West Africa’s emerging hydrocarbon producers. The country’s upstream potential is concentrated in deepwater and ultra-deepwater basins, where exploration costs and geological uncertainty have historically limited investment.
A key turning point came with major offshore discoveries such as the Baleine field, which significantly boosted confidence in the country’s petroleum prospects and attracted renewed interest from international oil companies. These finds have encouraged authorities to pursue a more structured strategy to accelerate exploration and development.
The state-owned Petroci has played a central role in this expansion, working alongside foreign partners to manage exploration blocks, promote licensing opportunities, and support data acquisition initiatives.
However, much of Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore basin remains underexplored, with historical seismic data often considered incomplete or outdated. As a result, exploration risk has remained high, limiting the pace of new investment despite recent discoveries.
To address this, authorities have increasingly turned to advanced geoscience and data reprocessing techniques. Companies such as TGS have helped re-evaluate legacy seismic datasets using modern imaging technologies, enabling better subsurface interpretation without the immediate need for costly new surveys.
The current push toward data-driven exploration reflects a broader regional trend in West Africa, where governments are seeking to reduce exploration risk, attract capital, and improve the efficiency of upstream licensing rounds. It also aligns with Côte d’Ivoire’s long-term production ambitions, which target significant increases in output over the next decade.
