Italian energy company Eni said it discovered natural gas in a well in an area off the Mozambique coast thought to hold 85 trillion cubic feet of gas in place.

Eni said Thursday it encountered a gas column measuring about 80-feet thick while drilling its Agulha 2 well in so-called Area 4 off the coast of Mozambique.

Agulha 2 is the twelfth successful well in the region for Eni. The company said in a statement it was considering further exploration drilling in the area following the find at the well.

"Total resources discovered in Area 4 are estimated at approximately 85 trillion cubic feet of gas in place," Eni said in a statement.

Eni has said it was eager to help Mozambique become a hub for liquefied natural gas exports to Asian economies. Its partners in Area 4 include Korean and Chinese companies.

In April, Eni said operations in Mozambique "include the construction of onshore and offshore gas liquefaction plants, to serve international markets and mainly Asia, and projects aimed at supplying energy for local consumption."