Abuja – The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has commended Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) following the discovery of a new oil well in the Niger Delta.
The discovery was made at the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well, located in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta and operated by Chevron under the NNPCL/CNL Joint Venture.
NNPCL spokesperson, John Odey, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, describing the development as a testament to the strength of the long-standing partnership between both companies.
Ojulari said the discovery represents a major boost to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon development drive, noting that it aligns with national priorities of increasing crude oil production and strengthening energy security.
“The success of the Awodi-07 well reinforces the strength of the NNPCL/CNL Joint Venture and our shared commitment to responsibly growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves. This achievement supports our strategic objectives of boosting production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value to Nigerians,” Ojulari said.
Also reacting, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPCL Ltd, Udy Ntia, described the discovery as clear evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration, technical discipline, and a stable operating environment.
Ntia said the outcome highlights the importance of disciplined exploration programmes and strong partnerships, adding that recent reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) have played a key role in improving operational outcomes.
He noted that NNPCL looks forward to working closely with Chevron to advance the discovery toward timely development and monetisation.
According to NNPCL, the Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s ongoing efforts to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential across its asset portfolio.
Drilling operations began in late November 2025 and were completed by mid-December 2025, with all activities conducted safely, efficiently, and in line with approved regulatory and operational standards.
Results from the well were described as highly encouraging, confirming the presence of significant hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones and further validating the prospectivity of the area.
NNPCL added that the Joint Venture is targeting an increase in oil production to approximately 146,000 barrels per day, a move expected to boost government revenue, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall energy supply.
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