Murphy Oil Reports Offshore Discoveries and Production Milestones in Côte d’Ivoire, Vietnam and Gulf of America
Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) has announced significant progress across its international exploration, appraisal and development portfolio, reporting a successful appraisal result offshore Côte d’Ivoire, a new oil discovery offshore Vietnam, first oil from the Lac Da Vang field and production from a development well in the Gulf of America.
The latest results highlight the company’s efforts to expand its hydrocarbon resource base while advancing projects toward commercial production. The successful Bubale West-1X appraisal well in Côte d’Ivoire and the Lac Da Trang North-1X exploration discovery in Vietnam provide additional opportunities for future resource development. Meanwhile, first oil from Lac Da Vang and the start of production from the Chinook #8 development well demonstrate progress in converting discovered resources into operating assets and revenue-generating production.
“These achievements highlight Murphy’s ability to create value across exploration, appraisal and development,” said Eric M. Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Murphy Oil Corporation.
Hambly noted that the results from Bubale West-1X and Lac Da Trang North-1X expand the company’s resource potential, while developments at Lac Da Vang and Chinook #8 demonstrate its ability to bring resources into production efficiently. Collectively, these milestones are expected to strengthen Murphy’s portfolio and support its long-term shareholder value objectives.
Successful Appraisal at Bubale West-1X Offshore Côte d’Ivoire
Murphy Oil reported a successful appraisal result at the Bubale West-1X well in Block CI-103, located offshore Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. The well encountered approximately 88 feet (27 metres) of net oil pay within the Turonian reservoir, providing additional information about the hydrocarbon potential of the area.
The well was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 19,357 feet (5,900 metres) in water depths of 9,039 feet (2,755 metres). In addition to the oil-bearing Turonian interval, the well encountered hydrocarbons in the deeper Albian reservoir, indicating further subsurface potential that will require continued evaluation.
Preliminary analysis of well logs and fluid samples indicates the presence of high-quality oil. Murphy plans to integrate the information collected during drilling with existing geological and subsurface data to improve its understanding of the reservoirs and determine the most effective approach for the remaining appraisal programme at Bubale.
Appraisal activities are important for establishing the size, characteristics and commercial potential of an oil discovery before committing to a full development programme. The new data from Bubale West-1X will help the company refine its assessment of the field and guide future operational decisions.
Murphy’s subsidiary, Murphy CI-103 Oil Co., Ltd., operates Block CI-103 and holds an 85% working interest. Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI), Côte d’Ivoire’s national oil company, holds the remaining 15% interest.
The appraisal result represents a further step in Murphy’s efforts to evaluate offshore resources in Côte d’Ivoire, where deepwater exploration and development require detailed technical assessment and substantial capital investment.
Lac Da Vang Field Begins Production Offshore Vietnam
In Vietnam, Murphy Oil achieved first oil from the Lac Da Vang (Golden Camel) field in Block 15-1/05 on 27 September 2026. The milestone marks the transition of the offshore development into the production phase and establishes an additional source of output and cash flow for the company.
Production from Lac Da Vang is expected to increase progressively through 2028 as additional wells are brought online. Murphy anticipates net peak production of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) during 2028–2029.
The anticipated production ramp-up will depend on the phased introduction of additional wells and the development’s operational performance. As output increases, the field is expected to make a growing contribution to Murphy’s overall production portfolio.
First oil is also an important milestone for the company’s wider Vietnam strategy. By moving the project from development into production, Murphy can begin generating operating cash flow while creating infrastructure that may support the development of nearby resources.
The company’s progress in Vietnam reflects its focus on advancing offshore projects with the potential to deliver sustained production over the coming years. The Lac Da Vang development may also provide strategic advantages for future exploration and appraisal activities within the surrounding area.
Murphy’s subsidiary, Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil Co., Ltd., operates Block 15-1/05 with a 40% working interest. PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Ltd. holds a 35% interest, while SK Earthon Co. Ltd. owns the remaining 25%.
New Oil Discovery at Lac Da Trang North-1X
Murphy also announced a successful exploration result at the Lac Da Trang (White Camel) North-1X well in Block 15-1/05 offshore Vietnam. The well encountered approximately 131 feet (40 metres) of net oil pay, providing a new opportunity for the company and its partners to evaluate additional hydrocarbon resources in the area.
Lac Da Trang North-1X was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 12,579 feet (3,834 metres) in water depths of 147 feet (45 metres). The oil-bearing interval represents a positive exploration result, although further technical work will be required to determine the discovery’s overall resource potential and commercial development prospects.
Murphy and its partners will analyse the well data and consider possible appraisal and development options. This assessment will help determine whether additional drilling is required and how the discovery could potentially be developed.
A key advantage is the proximity of the discovery to the now-producing Lac Da Vang field. Existing infrastructure associated with Lac Da Vang could potentially support a tieback development for Lac Da Trang North, subject to technical, commercial and regulatory assessments.
A subsea tieback can connect a new offshore discovery to an existing production facility rather than requiring an entirely separate development system. Where feasible, this approach can reduce infrastructure requirements, shorten development timelines and improve capital efficiency.
For Murphy, the possibility of using nearby infrastructure could create a more efficient route to developing the Lac Da Trang North discovery. However, the company has not yet confirmed a final development plan, and further evaluation will be needed before investment decisions are made.
The exploration result strengthens the company’s position in Block 15-1/05 and provides another opportunity to build on its existing offshore operations in Vietnam.
Chinook #8 Well Starts Production in the Gulf of America
In the Gulf of America, Murphy Oil confirmed that the Chinook #8 development well in Walker Ridge Block 425 is online and producing through the Pioneer floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel serving the Cascade-Chinook field.
The well achieved an initial gross production rate of approximately 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD), in line with pre-drill expectations. The initial result indicates that the well has delivered the production performance anticipated by the company during its planning and drilling activities.
The Chinook #8 well adds to Murphy’s existing production operations in the Gulf of America. By utilising the Pioneer FPSO, the company can bring the well into the established production system without requiring a separate standalone processing facility.
Murphy, through its subsidiaries, holds an 86.7% working interest in Chinook #8. Petrobras America Inc. holds the remaining 13.3% interest through its ownership in MP GOM.
The well’s start-up demonstrates continued development activity in Murphy’s Gulf of America portfolio, where production infrastructure and successful drilling programmes play important roles in maintaining and potentially increasing output.
Strengthening Murphy Oil’s Portfolio
The latest announcements demonstrate progress across several stages of Murphy Oil’s upstream business, from exploration and appraisal to development and production. The Côte d’Ivoire appraisal result and Vietnam exploration discovery provide additional opportunities for resource growth, while first oil at Lac Da Vang and production from Chinook #8 mark tangible advances in project execution.
The potential to connect Lac Da Trang North to nearby Lac Da Vang infrastructure could offer an additional route to developing new resources efficiently, although the opportunity remains subject to further evaluation.
Together, these developments support Murphy Oil’s strategy of pursuing exploration opportunities while bringing discovered resources into production. The company’s ability to assess new discoveries, leverage existing infrastructure and execute development projects will remain important to its future production outlook and long-term value creation.
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