The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has confirmed the discovery of a new oil well with considerable crude oil deposits following the successful drilling of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well by Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The disclosure was made in a statement released on Monday by NNPC’s spokesperson, Andy Odeh.
According to the statement, the Awodi-07 well is situated in the shallow offshore region of the western Niger Delta and was drilled under the NNPC Ltd/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture as part of ongoing efforts to further define and unlock hydrocarbon potential within the asset base.
NNPC stated that drilling activities began in late November 2025 and were completed by mid-December 2025, with operations carried out safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory and operational guidelines.
Following comprehensive testing, logging, and data acquisition, the well was safely secured, marking the successful conclusion of the programme.
The national oil company described the outcome of the Awodi-07 well as highly promising, noting that results confirmed substantial hydrocarbon presence across multiple reservoir levels.
NNPC said the discovery represents a major milestone for the joint venture, boosting confidence in the asset and further highlighting the exploration potential of the area.
The company explained that the joint venture arrangement allows Chevron Nigeria Limited, which holds a 40 per cent stake, and NNPC Ltd, which owns the remaining share, to combine resources, expertise, and investments across several oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta.
According to NNPC, the partnership is expected to help increase production to approximately 146,000 barrels per day, enhance government revenue, create employment opportunities, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy supply.
Reacting to the development, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, praised Chevron Nigeria Limited for its operational efficiency and technical expertise, describing the Awodi-07 success as a testament to the strength of the joint venture and its commitment to responsibly expanding Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves.
Also commenting, the Executive Vice-President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Udy Ntia, said the discovery highlights the benefits of sustained collaboration, technical discipline, and the reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act.
He added that NNPC is committed to working closely with Chevron Nigeria Limited to advance the discovery toward timely development and commercialisation.