The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has confirmed a major new oil find following the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.

The well, operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited under the NNPC Ltd/Chevron Joint Venture, was drilled to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within the partners’ asset portfolio. According to NNPC, the operation was executed safely and efficiently, with strict adherence to regulatory and operational standards from spud to completion.

Comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition were carried out before the well was secured. Technical results from Awodi-07 confirmed a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones, marking what NNPC described as a notable milestone for the joint venture and a strong signal of the area’s prospectivity.

NNPC stated that the outcome underscores the value of disciplined exploration and rigorous technical evaluation, as well as the strength of operational collaboration between the two companies. The discovery is expected to enhance confidence in the broader asset base and support future investment decisions in the western Niger Delta.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for its performance on the project. He said the success of Awodi-07 reinforces the robustness of the NNPC Ltd/Chevron partnership and aligns with NNPC’s strategic priorities of increasing production, bolstering national energy security, and delivering sustainable value to Nigerians.

Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Udy Ntia, described the results as clear evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration and ongoing sector reforms. He noted that the discovery highlights the importance of well-planned exploration programmes and the positive impact of the Petroleum Industry Act on upstream investment and project delivery.

Under their long-standing joint venture arrangement, NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited jointly operate several oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta. Chevron holds a 40 per cent interest, while NNPC Ltd owns the remaining share, pooling capital, technology, and expertise to develop Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.

Through this partnership, the companies are targeting an increase in oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day, a level expected to support government revenue, create jobs, and strengthen domestic energy supply. NNPC indicated that work will now focus on maturing the Awodi-07 discovery towards timely development and monetisation.