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, noting that the achievement underscores the strength of the long-standing partnership between both companies.
Ojulari described the discovery as a significant boost to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon development efforts. According to him, the success of the Awodi-07 well reinforces the Joint Venture’s commitment to responsibly growing the nation’s oil and gas reserves while supporting increased production and energy security.
“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,” he said.
Also reacting, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Udy Ntia, described the discovery as 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, strong partnerships, and the positive impact of reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act. He added that NNPCL looks forward to working closely with Chevron to advance the discovery toward timely development and monetisation.
NNPCL 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.
Drilling operations commenced in late November 2025 and were completed by mid-December 2025, with all activities carried out safely, efficiently, and in compliance with approved regulatory and operational standards.
According to the company, results from the well are highly encouraging, confirming a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones. The development is expected to strengthen confidence in the asset and further validate the prospectivity of the area.
NNPCL added that the Joint Venture aims to increase oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day, a move expected to boost government revenue, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s overall energy supply.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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