OREANDA-NEWS. December 7, 2012. Eni announces it has restarted its onshore exploration activities in Libya by drilling the A1-108/4 well in the Sirte Basin, located around 300km south of the city of Benghazi.

The well, operated by the fully owned subsidiary Eni North Africa, will reach a total depth of 14,500 feet and will test a new geological play in the EPSA IV 2008 Contract Area A.

The exploration well is the first of an onshore drilling program, which is set to continue into 2013, and it marks another important step in resuming all of Eni's exploration and production activities in Libya.

Eni was the first international company to resume production in September 2011, through the Mellitah Oil & Gas joint venture (50% NOC and 50% Eni), in the Abu Attifel field. Eni was also the first company to lift the force majeur status in Libya, in December 2011, and to resume offshore exploration activities in February 2012 by acquiring a 3D seismic survey.