By THE Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited and Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPCL/CNL JV) has recorded another milestone in Nigeria’s upstream sector with the successful drilling and completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the western Niger Delta.
The joint venture announced in Lagos on January 23, 2026, that the shallow offshore well was spudded on November 30, 2025, and drilled to a total depth of 12,420 feet measured depth, equivalent to 11,303 feet true vertical depth, by December 16, 2025.
Following the completion of wireline logging and fluid sampling activities, the well was safely plugged and suspended on December 28, 2025.
Results from the well indicated a total of about 675 feet of hydrocarbon pay.
Of this volume, 310 feet were recorded in appraisal reservoirs, meeting pre-drill expectations and opening new opportunities for field development, while the exploration segment encountered 365 feet of hydrocarbon pay across six distinct sand bodies.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited and Mid-Africa Region, Jim Swartz, said the Awodi-07 outcome highlights the robustness of the company’s exploration efforts and the strategic importance of its partnership with NNPCL.
He noted that the success further reinforces the joint venture’s resolve to sustain production growth in the country.
Vice President, Exploration, Kevin McLachlan, described the discovery as part of a series of recent exploration wins in Nigeria, adding that it aligns with Chevron’s global exploration focus on combining infrastructure-led prospects with frontier opportunities.
The joint venture stated that the discovery is in line with Chevron Nigeria Limited’s drive to grow its hydrocarbon portfolio in onshore and shallow offshore terrains, while supporting the company’s broader global strategy to extend the lifespan of existing assets and deliver production with shorter development cycles.
It also noted that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and ongoing reforms within the oil and gas sector continue to provide the framework for advancing exploration prospects and translating discoveries into sustainable value for Nigeria through technology, local collaboration and disciplined execution.
The NNPCL/CNL JV expressed appreciation to its regulators and stakeholders for their support and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with relevant authorities to ensure strict compliance with regulatory standards.
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