The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says a new oil well has been discovered in the Niger Delta region. The Nigerian crude oil exploration regulator said Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL joint venture (JV), completed the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well, leading to the new discovery. NNPCl spokesperson, Andy Odeh, who announced this in a statement last week, said the well was located in the shallow offshore area of western Niger Delta.
According to Odet, “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. “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.” The company added that results from the well were 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 NNPCL said.
It added that the success of Awodi-07 underscored 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. “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,” the statement further read.
It added that 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, group chief executive officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, 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. “This achievement aligns squarely with our strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security, and delivering sustainable value for the Nigerian people,” Ojulari noted.
Also speaking on the milestone, executive vice president (Upstream) of the Nigerian oil company, Udy Ntia described the Awodi-07 results as a clear demonstration of the value of sustained collaboration, technical rigour, and a stable, enabling operating environment.
