[BREAKING] Chevron Nigeria Makes Third Oil Discovery in 18 Months
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPCL/CNL JV) has announced the successful completion of the Awodi‑07
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPCL/CNL JV) has announced the successful completion of the Awodi‑07 appraisal and exploration well in the shallow offshore area within the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The well was spud on November 30, 2025, reached a total depth of 12,420 ft MD / 11,303 ft TVD on December 16, 2025, and has now been safely plugged and suspended following completion of wireline and fluid sampling operations on December 28, 2025. Awodi‑07 encountered approximately 675 feet of hydrocarbon pay, comprising:
- Appraisal reservoirs: 310 feet, in line with pre‑drill expectations, unlocking development potential.
- Exploration targets: 365 feet across six hydrocarbon‑bearing sands.
Jim Swartz, Chairman & Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria/Mid Africa Region, emphasised the significance of this discovery stating that, “The Awodi‑07 success demonstrates the strength of our exploration program and the value of collaboration with our senior partner, NNPCL, reinforcing the NNPCL/CNL JV’s commitment to sustaining production growth.”
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Reinforcing Jim’s message, Kevin McLachlan, Vice President – Exploration, added, “This discovery comes after two recent exploration successes in Nigeria since late 2024. All three discoveries compliment Chevron’s global exploration strategy to balance infrastructure enabled and frontier activity.”
This accomplishment is consistent with CNL’s commitment to continue developing and growing its hydrocarbon resources. This includes resources in the onshore and shallow water regions and supports Chevron’s broader global exploration strategy to find new resources that extend the life of producing assets in existing operating areas and deliver production with shorter development cycle times.
Enabled by the Petroleum Industry Act and ongoing industry reforms, we are advancing exploration opportunities and converting new discoveries into value for Nigeria through technology, local partnerships, and disciplined development.
We appreciate the partnership with NNPCL and the support of our regulators. The NNPCL/CNL JV will continue to collaborate closely with the regulators and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.
