January 26, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), have recorded a major exploration breakthrough with the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
NNPC Ltd, in a statement on Monday, congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture, describing the outcome as a significant boost to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon development efforts and energy security drive.
The Awodi-07 was spud on November 30, 2025, and drilled to a total depth of 12,420 feet measured depth (MD) and 11,303 feet true vertical depth (TVD) on December 16, 2025, before being safely plugged and suspended on December 28, after completion of wireline logging and fluid sampling operations.
The operations were conducted safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with approved regulatory and operational standards. Following comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was securely suspended, marking the successful completion of the drilling programme.
Results from the well confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones, strengthening confidence in the asset’s potential and reinforcing the overall prospectivity of the area. The success represents a key milestone for the Joint Venture and underscores the value of disciplined exploration, robust technical evaluation, and sustained collaboration between both partners.
Commenting on the achievement, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, commended Chevron for its operational excellence and technical competence.
“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 aligns with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people”, Ojulari said.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr Udy Ntia, said the outcome demonstrated the value of sustained collaboration, technical rigour, and the positive impact of reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act.
“This discovery underscores the importance of disciplined exploration programmes, strong partnerships, and a stable, enabling operating environment. We look forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to mature this opportunity and progress it towards timely development and monetisation”, Ntia stated.
NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited operate several oil and gas assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta under a joint venture arrangement, in which Chevron holds 40 percent equity, while NNPC Ltd retains 60 percent. Through the partnership, the companies aim to raise production to about 146,000 barrels per day, boosting government revenue, creating jobs, and strengthening the country’s energy supply.
The Awodi-07 discovery is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s energy supply outlook and extend the productive life of assets in the western Niger Delta.
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