Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the discovery of a new oil well with significant crude deposits in the Niger Delta.
Gatekeepers News reports that the discovery followed the successful completion of an appraisal and exploration programme by Chevron Nigeria Limited.
In a statement issued on Monday by Andy Odeh, spokesperson of NNPC, the national oil company said Chevron Nigeria Limited, which operates the NNPC Ltd/Chevron joint venture, completed drilling activities at the Awodi-07 well located in the shallow offshore area of the western Niger Delta.
According to the statement, the Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of ongoing efforts by the joint venture to better define and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its existing assets.
Drilling operations reportedly began in late November 2025 and were concluded by mid-December 2025, with all activities carried out safely and in line with approved regulatory and operational standards.
NNPC explained that after extensive testing, logging, and data gathering, the well was safely secured, marking the successful conclusion of the drilling programme.
Results from the operation were described as highly encouraging, confirming the presence of substantial hydrocarbon volumes across multiple reservoir zones.
The company noted that the outcome represents a major boost for the NNPC Ltd/Chevron joint venture, strengthening confidence in the asset and further highlighting the oil and gas potential of the area.
It added that the success of Awodi-07 reflects disciplined exploration practices, sound technical evaluation, and strong operational cooperation between both partners.
Under the joint venture arrangement, Chevron Nigeria Limited holds a 40 per cent stake, while NNPC Limited retains the remaining share.
The partnership allows both companies to pool resources, expertise, and investment to efficiently develop oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta.
Through this collaboration, the partners are targeting increased production of about 146,000 barrels per day, a move expected to support government revenue, job creation, and national energy supply.
Commenting on the development, Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of NNPC, praised Chevron Nigeria Limited for its technical strength and operational 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,” he said.
“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 for upstream at NNPC, also described the outcome as evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration and technical discipline.
“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.
He added that NNPC looks forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to advance the discovery toward timely development and monetisation, in line with national goals of boosting output and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global energy market.
