NNPC cheers Chevron on hydrocarbon discovery

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has hailed Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) for successfully completing the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta, uncovering significant hydrocarbon reserves.

A statement signed Monday by Andy Odeh, NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, revealed how drilling began in late November 2025 and wrapped up in mid-December 2025.

All operations ran safely and met regulatory standards, with testing confirming hydrocarbons across multiple zones.

“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 statement noted, praising the “disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and strong operational collaboration” between the partners.

NNPC Ltd’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, lauded CNL’s role, saying, “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.”

Echoing this, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President for Upstream, Udy Ntia, highlighted the breakthrough’s broader implications, “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.”

Under their joint venture—where CNL holds 40% and NNPC Ltd the rest—the partners manage key Niger Delta fields.

They target ramping production to 146,000 barrels per day to boost revenue, jobs, and energy supply.