NNPC Confirms Major Breakthrough With Successful New Oil Well Discovery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited (on the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.

Chevron Nigeria Limited operates the asset under the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture.

The Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s efforts to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its asset portfolio.

Drilling operations commenced in late November 2025 and were concluded in mid-December 2025.

According to the company, all activities were carried out safely, efficiently, and in strict compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards. Following comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, bringing the programme to a close.

All these were detailed in a press release signed by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, and dated 26 January 2026.

Results from the Awodi-07 well confirmed a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones, it noted.

NNPC Ltd described the outcome as a notable milestone for the Joint Venture, strengthening confidence in the asset and reinforcing the prospectivity of the area.

The company said the result highlighted the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and strong operational collaboration between both partners.

Commenting on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for its performance.

“The success of the Awodi-07 well further reinforces the strength of the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture and our shared commitment to responsibly growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves,” Ojulari said.

“This achievement aligns squarely with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people,” he added.

Also speaking on the milestone, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Udy Ntia, described the results as evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration and sector reforms.

“This discovery underscores the importance of disciplined exploration programmes, strong partnerships, and the positive impact of the reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act,” Ntia said.

“We look forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to mature this opportunity and progress it towards timely development and monetisation,” he added.

According to the release, NNPC Limited and Chevron Nigeria Ltd operate under a joint venture agreement covering several oil and gas fields in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Under the arrangement, Chevron holds a 40 per cent interest, while NNPC Ltd owns the remaining share. The partnership is structured to combine resources, expertise, and investment to develop Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.

Through the Joint Venture, the partners aim to increase oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day to support government revenue, job creation, and national energy supply.