Eni Uncovers 5 Tcf Gas Discovery Offshore Indonesia, Reinforcing Kutei Basin Potential

Apr 27, 2026


Indonesia recorded a significant upstream milestone after Eni announced a giant gas discovery at the Geliga-1 exploration well in the Ganal Block, offshore East Kalimantan. The find holds an estimated 5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas and around 300 million barrels of condensate, making it one of the more consequential discoveries in the region in recent years.

The well was drilled to roughly 5,100 meters in water depths of about 2,000 meters, approximately 70 kilometers from shore. Drilling encountered a substantial gas column within Miocene formations with strong petrophysical properties, a result that speaks to the quality of the reservoir even under technically demanding conditions.

Geliga-1 is the latest in a string of exploration successes Eni has logged in the Kutei Basin, following Geng North in 2023 and Konta-1 in 2025. Taken together, these findings steadily reinforce the basin's standing as one of Indonesia's most promising gas provinces, with resource potential that scales across multiple structures.

On the development side, Eni has already taken Final Investment Decisions (FID) for the South Hub and North Hub projects, both expected to come online around 2028. At full capacity, the two hubs are projected to produce up to 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) of gas alongside 90,000 barrels of condensate per day. The development will rely on subsea systems and FPSO infrastructure, tied into existing facilities at the Bontang LNG plant.

The location of Geliga-1 also draws attention to the nearby Gula discovery, estimated at around 2 Tcf. Early assessments suggest that combining resources from both fields could add roughly 1 Bcfd of gas output and support the formation of a third production hub in the basin, sharing infrastructure and cutting time to market.

To close the loop on the downstream side, Eni is looking at options to expand liquefaction capacity at Bontang. The rationale is straightforward: leverage what is already there, keep capital spending in check, and extend the working life of one of Indonesia's principal LNG export facilities.

The Ganal Block is operated by Eni with an 82% interest, with Sinopec holding the remaining 18%. The block will eventually fold into a broader joint venture with Petronas, anchoring Eni's position in Southeast Asia's gas market over the longer term.

Drilling is expected to continue through 2026 and 2027. If results hold, Geliga looks set to become a meaningful contributor to Indonesia's gas reserve base while reaffirming the Kutei Basin's role in both domestic supply and international LNG trade.

Writer: Timothy Evan

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