The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta, describing the outcome as a major boost to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon prospects.
Chevron Nigeria operates the asset under the NNPC Ltd/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture, with the Awodi-07 well drilled to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within the venture’s asset portfolio.
Drilling operations commenced in late November 2025 and were completed by mid-December 2025, according to a press release signed by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, and dated January 26, 2026.
NNPC Ltd said all drilling activities were executed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards. Following extensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, marking the successful conclusion of the programme.
Results from the Awodi-07 well confirmed a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones, a development NNPC Ltd described as a notable milestone for the Joint Venture.
The company said the outcome strengthened confidence in the asset and reinforced the overall prospectivity of the area, highlighting the effectiveness of disciplined exploration, sound technical evaluation, and strong operational collaboration between both partners.
Commenting on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for its performance and commitment.
“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 with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people,” he added.
Also reacting, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Udy Ntia, described the discovery as proof 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 toward timely development and monetisation,” he added.
NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited operate under a joint venture agreement covering multiple oil and gas assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Under the arrangement, Chevron holds a 40 per cent stake, while NNPC Ltd owns 60 per cent.
Through the Joint Venture, the partners aim to ramp up oil production to approximately 146,000 barrels per day, supporting government revenue, job creation, and Nigeria’s national energy supply.