The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC Ltd/CNL Joint Venture, on the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
The Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s ongoing drive to further delineate and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its asset portfolio. Drilling commenced in late November 2025 and was concluded in mid-December 2025, with operations carried out safely, efficiently and in full compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards.
In a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the national oil company said that following comprehensive testing, logging and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, marking the successful completion of the programme.
According to NNPC Ltd, results from the Awodi-07 well were highly encouraging, confirming the presence of significant hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones. The development represents a major milestone for the Joint Venture, strengthening confidence in the asset and reinforcing the prospectivity of the area.
The company noted that the success of Awodi-07 underscores the value of disciplined exploration, robust technical evaluation and strong operational collaboration between NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
Commenting on the achievement, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, praised Chevron Nigeria Limited for its operational excellence, technical expertise and consistent value delivery.
“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.”
Also reacting, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Udy Ntia, described the results from Awodi-07 as clear evidence of the benefits of sustained collaboration, technical rigour and a stable operating environment.
“This discovery highlights the importance of disciplined exploration programmes, strong partnerships and the positive impact of the reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act,” Ntia said, adding that NNPC Ltd looks forward to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to advance the discovery towards development and monetisation.
NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited operate several oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta under a joint venture arrangement, with Chevron holding a 40 per cent stake and NNPC Ltd the remaining share.
Through the partnership, both companies aim to ramp up production to about 146,000 barrels per day, supporting government revenue, job creation and Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
