The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL joint venture (JV), has completed the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well.
In a statement on Monday by Andy Odeh, NNPC spokesperson, the company said the well is located in the shallow offshore area of western Niger Delta.
“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,” the company said.
“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.
“Following the completion of comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, bringing the programme to a successful close.”
NNPC said results from the well are highly encouraging, confirming a substantial 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 company said.
According to the national firm, the success of Awodi-07 underscores the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and the strong operational collaboration between NNPC and JV partner.
“NNPC Limited and Chevron Nigeria Ltd work together under a joint venture agreement to operate several oil and gas fields in Nigeria’s Niger Delta,” the statement reads.
“In this partnership, Chevron owns 40 per cent of the assets, while NNPC Limited holds the remaining share.
“The arrangement allows both companies to combine resources, expertise, and investment to develop Nigeria’s oil and gas resources more effectively.”
According to the statement, through the collaboration, the partners aim to increase oil output to about 146,000 barrels per day (bpd), which would support government revenue, create jobs, and contribute to the country’s energy supply.
Commenting on the achievement, Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for its operational excellence, technical competence, and consistent delivery of value.
“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.”
Also speaking on the milestone, Udy Ntia, executive vice-president, upstream, NNPC, described the Awodi-07 results as a clear demonstration of the value of sustained collaboration, technical rigour, and a stable, enabling operating environment.
“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.
Ntia added that the NNPC looks forward to working closely with CNL to advance the opportunity toward timely development and monetisation.
