The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the successful completion of a new oil well discovery by Chevron Nigeria Limited at the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
Chevron Nigeria Limited operates the asset under the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture.
In a press release signed by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, and dated January 26, 2026, the company said the Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s efforts to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its asset portfolio.
Drilling operations commenced in late November 2025 and were concluded in mid-December 2025.
According to NNPC Ltd, all drilling and testing activities were carried out safely, efficiently, and in strict compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards. After comprehensive testing, logging and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, bringing the programme to a close.
Results from the Awodi-07 well confirmed a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones, a development NNPC described as a major milestone for the Joint Venture.
The company said the outcome strengthened confidence in the asset and reinforced the prospectivity of the area, highlighting the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and strong operational collaboration between both partners.
Commenting on the discovery, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for its 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,” Ojulari said.
“This achievement aligns squarely with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people,” he added.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Udy Ntia, described the results as evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration and sector reforms.
“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.
“We look forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to mature this opportunity and progress it towards timely development and monetisation,” he added.
NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited operate under a joint venture covering several oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta, with Chevron holding 40 per cent equity and NNPC Ltd owning the remaining share.
Through the partnership, the Joint Venture aims to increase oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day, in support of government revenue, job creation, and national energy supply.
Elijah Adeyemi
