Nigeria’s drive to ramp up crude oil production received a fresh boost on Monday as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) confirmed a new oil and gas discovery by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
The discovery followed the successful drilling of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well, operated by Chevron under its joint venture with NNPC Ltd. The state oil firm described the outcome as a major milestone in ongoing efforts to unlock additional hydrocarbon potential and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
NNPCL said results from the well were “highly encouraging,” confirming the presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir zones. The discovery is expected to support the joint venture’s target of raising production from the area to about 146,000 barrels per day (bpd), a development that could significantly boost national output and government revenues.
The Awodi-07 well was drilled in late 2025 as part of Chevron’s broader exploration and appraisal campaign aimed at maximising value from existing assets in Nigeria’s offshore terrain.
According to NNPCL, the success further reinforces confidence in the hydrocarbon prospects of the region and aligns with efforts to deepen exploration activity after years of declining upstream investments.
Chevron and NNPC operate under a long-standing joint venture arrangement in which Chevron holds a 40 per cent stake and serves as operator, while NNPC retains the remaining 60 per cent. The latest find marks the third discovery recorded by the venture since 2024, underscoring renewed momentum in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration, Kevin McLachlan, said the discovery aligns with the company’s global strategy of balancing infrastructure-led exploration with frontier basin opportunities.
Industry watchers say the development signals renewed confidence among international oil majors, many of whom are reassessing their Nigerian portfolios following recent fiscal and regulatory reforms introduced by the Federal Government to attract fresh investments.
Only last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved targeted, investment-linked incentives for Shell’s proposed Bonga South West deepwater project. Shell is expected to commit about $20 billion to the development, according to the President’s Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen.
With new discoveries and major projects advancing, Nigeria appears to be regaining ground in its quest to raise crude production capacity and reposition the oil and gas sector as a key driver of economic growth.
