Drilling 3,700 Meters Below the Seabed Unveils 192-Meter Natural Gas Column, Signaling Major Hydrocarbon Potential

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have announced a significant hydrocarbon discovery at the Awodi-07 exploration and appraisal well, located offshore in the Niger Delta region. This breakthrough is a promising step toward enhancing Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves and production capacity, solidifying its position as Africa’s leading oil producer.

The Awodi-07 well has identified a total hydrocarbon column of approximately 192 meters. Of this, around 94 meters are within the primary reservoir intervals, while an additional 122 meters are distributed across six secondary exploration targets. The discovery is situated in the shallow waters off the western Niger Delta, an area recognized for its substantial oil and gas potential but requiring further detailed geological data for efficient exploitation.

Drilling operations at Awodi-07 commenced in late November 2025, reaching a measured depth of 3,785 meters by December 16, 2025. Following the completion of geophysical logging, fluid sampling, and comprehensive evaluations on December 28, 2025, the well was securely plugged and suspended pending further analysis.

NNPCL highlighted that the drilling results demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbons across multiple reservoir layers, underscoring the multi-layered potential of the geological structure in this region. The company views this discovery as a pivotal milestone for the joint venture, reinforcing confidence in its offshore asset portfolio within the Niger Delta.

According to Nigerian officials, the success of the Awodi-07 well is a testament to the disciplined exploration approach, grounded in meticulous technical assessments and robust operational collaboration between NNPCL and Chevron. The joint venture operates under a long-term partnership model, with Chevron holding a 40% stake and NNPCL owning the remaining interest. The long-term goal is to boost oil production to approximately 146,000 barrels per day in the area, thereby increasing government revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring a stable energy supply for Nigeria’s economy.

This discovery comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to attract greater investment in its upstream oil and gas sector, following years of production fluctuations due to security challenges, infrastructure limitations, and investment climate concerns. Positive signals from new exploration wells like Awodi-07 are expected to bolster investor confidence and accelerate the development of additional oilfield projects in the near future.

On a broader scale, Chevron is expanding its global natural gas portfolio. Earlier this month, Chevron Mediterranean, alongside its partners in Israel’s Leviathan natural gas project, made the final investment decision (FID) for the field’s expansion phase. This project will add new wells and upgrade infrastructure to increase gas supply to Israel and neighboring markets by the end of the decade.

With the Awodi-07 discovery, the NNPCL/Chevron joint venture not only expands its resource base in the Niger Delta but also strengthens Nigeria’s prospects for increasing oil and gas production in the medium to long term.