Eni has secured the Sapukala exploration block offshore Indonesia, adding acreage in the Kutei Basin as it expands its Southeast Asian portfolio. The Italian energy company holds a 100% participating interest in the block off East Kalimantan, Offshore Energy reported. The award places Eni near both its existing regional holdings and planned gas developments.
The licence was awarded through the first Indonesia Petroleum Bidding Round 2026. Before taking part in the direct offer bidding process, Eni carried out a joint study with an Indonesian academic institution to meet local regulatory requirements. According to Offshore Energy, that work identified the acreage as highly prospective. Eni has also recently finished acquiring new seismic data covering the block, providing a basis for speeding up further evaluation of its exploration potential.
Sapukala lies in the deepwater portion of the Kutei Basin, where water depths range from 1,000 to 2,500 metres. Its acreage borders blocks in which Eni already has operating roles or participating interests. The company directly operates the Peri-Mahakam and Makassar Strait blocks. The new licence therefore extends its exploration position in a basin where it already has an established presence, rather than taking it into an entirely new operating area.
The block is also close to the future North Hub developments, operated by Searah, the joint venture owned equally by Eni and Petronas. These comprise the Geng North, Gehem, Gula and Geliga gas and condensate discoveries. Offshore Energy reported that the discoveries together contain more than 14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in place and 800,000 barrels of condensate.
Searah's broader portfolio consists of 19 gas-producing and development assets, with 14 in Indonesia and five in Malaysia. Its production is around 350,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day, according to the report. The venture aims to lift sustainable output above 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day by 2028.