Italian energy major Eni has commenced gas production from the Argo Cassiopea field in the Strait of Sicily.
The gas from one of the four recently drilled subsea wells is conveyed via a 60km pipeline to the Gela processing plant.
After processing, it will be integrated into the national grid, thereby supporting Italy's energy requirements.
The Argo Cassiopea production project, operated by Eni with a 60% stake in partnership with Energean, which holds 40%, has reached this milestone three years after construction began.
The production process is entirely subsea, ensuring no visual impact and almost zero emissions, Eni said.
A 3.6MWp solar photovoltaic installation is set to offset scope 1 and 2 emissions, aligning the project with carbon-neutrality goals.
Argo Cassiopea is pivotal in Eni's strategy to augment the supply of domestic natural gas, which is considered vital for energy security and as a cleaner-burning fuel source.
The field's reserves are estimated at approximately ten billion cubic metres, with an anticipated peak production of 1.5 billion cubic metres annually.
The Cassiopea gas development, located off the Italian coast, is also part of Energean's assets earmarked for sale to a Carlyle-controlled entity.
This move is aimed at focusing on gas-weighted growth within the Mediterranean and the broader Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.
Last month, Eni entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SOCAR, the state-owned oil and gas company of Azerbaijan.
The MoU outlines potential collaboration on various energy projects and transition initiatives, including exploration and production synergies, investment opportunities, and infrastructure partnerships in Azerbaijan and other regions where Eni operates.
The agreement also encompasses the exploration of initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable development, and instil a sustainability culture within the energy sector.
Additionally, the MoU includes plans for activities related to the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP29), set to take place in Azerbaijan in November 2024.
