The Bourdon oil discovery offshore Gabon is progressing toward a final investment decision (FID), according to an operational update released by Panoro Energy on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
The Norwegian company said the project has entered the maturation phase ahead of an investment decision but did not provide a timeline for when approval is expected.
Ahead of an FID, Panoro plans an initial development concept involving three wells tied back to a single production area.
The company also said it has identified additional nearby prospects following drilling activity, although it did not indicate whether these discoveries will be developed, according to Ecofin Agency.
BW Energy, the operator of the Dussafu Marin permit, announced in March 2025 that it had made an oil discovery at the Bourdon prospect after drilling to a depth of about 4,135 metres.
In April 2025, the Bermuda-based company said the find could support a four-well development campaign as part of the field’s development.
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The Bourdon project adds to ongoing developments on the Dussafu Marin permit. A final investment decision was taken in late October 2025 for the MaBoMo Phase 2 project on the same block, with several wells planned and first oil targeted for the second half of 2026.
Panoro also said it has completed new seismic campaigns in nearby areas to identify additional exploration targets.
BW Energy holds a 73.5% interest in the offshore Dussafu Marin permit, with Panoro Energy owning 17.5% and the Gabon Oil Company holding the remaining 9%. Production from the block comes from multiple oil fields, including Moubenga and Walt Whitman.
The permit currently has 14 producing wells across the Tortue (six wells), Hibiscus (five), Hibiscus South (two) and Ruche (one) fields, with output processed through a BW Energy-operated floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit.
Gross production from the permit averaged about 30,500 barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2025, BW Energy said, with net output of around 22,400 bpd to the operator and 5,343 bpd to Panoro Energy.
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Image Credit: Energy Capital & Power
