The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has confirmed the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well by Chevron Nigeria Limited in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
Chevron Nigeria Limited operates the asset under the NNPC Ltd/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture. The Awodi-07 well was drilled as part of the Joint Venture’s ongoing efforts to further define and unlock hydrocarbon potential within its asset portfolio.
Drilling activities began in late November 2025 and were concluded by mid-December 2025. NNPC Ltd said the operations were executed safely and efficiently, in full compliance with approved operational and regulatory standards. After comprehensive testing, logging and data acquisition, the well was securely shut in, bringing the programme to completion.
These details were contained in a press release dated January 26, 2026, and signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh.
According to the company, results from the Awodi-07 well confirmed a significant presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones. NNPC Ltd described the outcome as a major milestone for the Joint Venture, strengthening confidence in the asset and reaffirming the prospectivity of the area.
The company noted that the success reflects 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.
“The success of the Awodi-07 well further reinforces the strength of the NNPC Ltd/Chevron Joint Venture and our shared commitment to responsibly growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves,” Ojulari said. He added that the achievement aligns with the company’s strategic priorities of increasing production, enhancing national energy security and delivering sustainable value to Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Udy Ntia, said the discovery demonstrates the benefits of sustained collaboration and recent 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 stated, adding that NNPC Ltd looks forward to working closely with Chevron to advance the project towards timely development and monetisation.
NNPC Ltd and Chevron Nigeria Limited currently operate under a joint venture arrangement covering several oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta, with Chevron holding a 40 per cent interest and NNPC Ltd owning the remaining share.
Through the Joint Venture, both partners aim to raise oil production to about 146,000 barrels per day, contributing to government revenue, job creation and improved national energy supply.
