**Eni Begins Production at Argo Cassiopea Offshore Field in Sicily**
Italian energy giant Eni has marked a significant milestone in its efforts to bolster Italy’s energy security with the commencement of gas production from the Argo Cassiopea field, located in the Strait of Sicily. This major offshore development project, operated in conjunction with Energean, has officially begun producing gas just three years after construction began.
The project involves the operation of four subsea wells drilled recently in the Sicilian Strait. Gas from these wells is transported 60 kilometers via a subsea pipeline to the onshore Gela processing plant. At Gela, the gas will undergo processing before being fed into Italy’s national grid, thereby contributing to the country’s energy needs.
This initiative not only signifies a substantial boost to Italy’s domestic natural gas supply but also underscores Eni’s commitment to reducing environmental impact. The production is conducted entirely underwater, resulting in minimal visual disturbance and near-zero emissions. Additionally, Eni has implemented a dedicated installation of 3.6 MWp of photovoltaic panels to ensure that the project achieves carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The Argo Cassiopea field holds an estimated 10 billion cubic meters of gas reserves, with peak annual production expected to reach 1.5 billion cubic meters. This milestone aligns with Eni’s strategic aim to increase the use of domestic natural gas as both a primary source of energy and a low-emission solution.
The joint venture between Eni and Energean has successfully delivered this project within the stipulated three-year timeframe. With ongoing phases planned to bring the remaining infrastructure online, test, and commission, the full operational capacity of Argo Cassiopea is expected to be fully realized in the near future.
Eni’s partnership with Energean has been substantial in this venture, with Energean holding a 40% stake in the project. However