Eni named most-admired upstream explorer in Wood Mackenzie’s annual survey

Italian major Eni has been named the upstream industry’s most-admired explorer in Wood Mackenzie’s industry-leading annual Exploration Survey. This is the 16th Wood Mackenzie Exploration Survey, which tallies views from across the exploration sector and asks respondents to identify which explorer – aside from their own company – they most admire.

Julie Wilson, Director, Subsurface Research, at Wood Mackenzie, said: “For the record-tying fifth time in our industry-leading survey, Eni has received the illustrious recognition of being named the most-admired explorer. I would like to congratulate the company’s Exploration Director, Aldo Napolitano, and his global team for a well-deserved win.

“The industry continues to admire operators who can not only open new frontiers, but also find large volumes of advantaged resources. Eni’s recent efforts and discoveries have been excellent examples of both trends.”

Shell received the Discovery of the Year award for Jonker and its previous finds in Namibia, in partnership with QatarEnergy and NAMCOR.

“The Jonker discovery made in 2,200 metres of water off Namibia is part of a fast-emerging play that has the entire industry very excited,” said Wilson. “If Shell and partners are able to commercialise this project together with their other discoveries on the acreage, it will help establish an important new industry for Namibia.”

Two other awards were announced:

• E&P Explorer of the Year – Galp Energies
• NOC Explorer of the Year – PETRONAS

This is the first time that Galp Energies has been recognised as E&P Explorer of the Year in the survey. It is another award stemming from drilling success in the active Namibian exploration sector. Galp announced its giant Mopane discovery earlier this year and hopes to move quickly towards development.

PETRONAS has achieved an impressive run of gas discoveries in its Malaysian heartlands. Finds completed during 2023 added cumulative resources of over 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent, which will find a ready market in the country’s well-established gas industry. The company also enjoyed international exploration success in Suriname which has continued into 2024.

“The exploration industry helps meet future energy demand,” said Wilson. “These award-winning companies, as well as many others, continue to discover advantaged resources that can displace less sustainable and more costly oil and gas supply. Their development will reduce upstream emissions and support investment in clean energy alternatives through the energy transition.”