Nigeria’s Chevron-NNPC Discovery Set to Boost Daily Crude Output to 146,000 Barrels

Nigeria is set to ramp up its crude oil production following a major offshore discovery by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well, located in the shallow waters of the western Niger Delta, has revealed significant hydrocarbon reserves, positioning the country for a potential production boost.

The NNPC Ltd/CNL joint venture announced that the discovery could increase Nigeria’s oil output by approximately 146,000 barrels per day (bpd). This development comes as the nation intensifies efforts to attract investment and increase hydrocarbon production, which could translate into higher government revenue and improved energy security for the country.

Drilled in late 2025, the Awodi-07 well confirmed hydrocarbon presence across multiple reservoir zones, highlighting the area’s untapped potential. “Results from the well are highly encouraging,” NNPC said, emphasizing the importance of the discovery in expanding the joint venture’s portfolio and boosting investor confidence.

This marks the third significant discovery by the Chevron-NNPC partnership since 2024. Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration, Kevin McLachlan, noted that these successes align with the company’s global strategy to balance investments between established infrastructure and frontier exploration, underscoring Nigeria’s growing importance in Chevron’s long-term plans.

Nigeria’s government has also been actively supporting the revitalization of its oil sector. Last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved investment-linked incentives for Shell’s proposed Bonga South West deepwater project, with plans to inject $20 billion into the project. Together with Chevron-NNPC’s success, these moves reflect a broader push to strengthen the country’s position as Africa’s leading oil producer.

source: Leadership