NNPC Limited GCEO, Ojulari applauds Chevron Nigeria Limited on discovery of Awodi-07

By Onu Okorie 

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari has applauded Chevron Nigeria Limited CNL for its operational excellence, technical competence, and consistent delivery of value, after the successful discovery of Awodi-07 in the shallow offshore of western Niger Delta and on the completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well. This was part of the statement made available to the media yesterday in Abuja by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh. According to Mr Ojulari, “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.” 

On his part  speaking, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Udy Ntia, described the Awodi-07 results as a clear demonstration of the value of sustained collaboration, technical rigour, and a stable, enabling operating environment.

According to him, “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.”

With the new discovery the NNPC Limited and the CNL disclosed plans to ramp up crude production to 146,000 barrels per day.

NNPC Limited and CNL are working 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 60 per cent 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.

NNPC explained that 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.

Noting that 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.

It revealed that following the completion of comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, bringing the programme to a successful close.

“Results from the well are highly encouraging, confirming a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir 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 success of Awodi-07 further highlights the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and the strong operational collaboration between NNPC Ltd and its Joint Venture partner,” the statement added.