KEY POINTS
- Chevron and NNPCL have successfully completed the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in Nigeria’s western Niger Delta shallow offshore.
- The well encountered about 675 feet of hydrocarbon pay, strengthening prospects for additional crude production.
- The discovery aligns with Chevron’s strategy to grow output through shorter-cycle projects and Nigeria’s petroleum sector reforms.
Chevron Nigeria Limited says it is refocusing its investment portfolio in Nigeria to significantly boost crude oil production, leveraging ongoing government reforms and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The company explained that the move aligns with its broader global exploration strategy, which prioritises finding new resources near existing producing assets and delivering production with shorter development cycle timelines.
According to Chevron, these efforts are designed to convert discoveries into long-term value for Nigeria through advanced technology, local partnerships and disciplined project execution.
Awodi-07 Well Successfully Completed
In a major step supporting this strategy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPCL/CNL JV) has successfully completed the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore western Niger Delta.
The well was spudded on November 30, 2025, and reached a total depth of 12,420 feet measured depth (MD) and 11,303 feet true vertical depth (TVD) on December 16, 2025. Following wireline logging and fluid sampling operations, the well was safely plugged and suspended on December 28, 2025.
Chevron disclosed that Awodi-07 encountered approximately 675 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs, indicating strong potential for commercial development.
Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria and Mid Africa Region, Jim Swartz, described the well’s success as evidence of the strength of Chevron’s exploration programme in Nigeria.
“The Awodi-07 success demonstrates the value of collaboration with our senior partner, NNPCL, and reinforces the joint venture’s commitment to sustaining production growth,” Swartz said.
Similarly, Chevron’s Vice President for Exploration, Kevin McLachlan, noted that the discovery follows two other exploration successes in Nigeria since late 2024.
