NNPC Says Chevron’s Awodi-07 Discovery Confirms ‘Huge Presence of Hydrocarbons’

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says results from the well Awodi-07 discovered by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) “are highly encouraging, confirming a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones”.

State-owned NNPC congratulated CNL, operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture, on the successful completion of the appraisal and exploration well located in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.

“This outcome represents a notable milestone for the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture on strengthening confidence in the underlying asset and reinforcing the prospectivity of the area. The success of Awodi-07 further highlights the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and the strong operational collaboration between NNPC Ltd and its voint Venture partner,” it said in a statement on Monday,

It said the Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the joint venture’s ongoing 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, with all activities executed safely, efficiently, and in strict compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards.

“Following the completion of comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, bringing the programme to a successful close,” the NNPC said.

Bashir Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of NNPC Ltd, said: “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. This achievement aligns squarely with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people.”

Udy Ntia, executive vice president in charge of upstream operations at NNPC, described the Awodi-07 results as a clear demonstration of the value of sustained collaboration, technical rigour, and a stable, enabling operating environment.

“This discovery underscores the importance of disciplined exploration programmes, strong partnerships, and the positive impact of the reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act. We look forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to mature this opportunity and progress it towards timely development and monetisation,” he said.

NNPC Limited and Chevron Nigeria Ltd work together under a joint venture agreement to operate several oil and gas fields in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. In this partnership, Chevron owns 40 per cent of the assets, while NNPC Limited holds the remaining share. The arrangement allows both companies to combine resources, expertise, and investment to develop Nigeria’s oil and gas resources more effectively.

Through this collaboration, the partners aim to increase oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day, which would support government revenue, create jobs, and contribute to the country’s energy supply.