Data presented here may not be the most recent available
Globalshift.co.uk - copyright © 2009 to 2025; All rights reserved
2025
No significant news in 2025.
2024
Dec 2024: Shell (operator, 55%), Esso (20%), Agip (12.5%) and TotalEnergies (12.5%) announced FID on Bonga North in OML118 in water depths of 1050m. The project will be a subsea tie-back to the Bonga FPSO including 16 wells (8 prod./8 inj.) to tap recoverable resources of 300 mm barrels at a peak of 110,000 bbls a day. First oil is anticipated in 2029.
Apr 2024: The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced the opening of the Nigeria 2024 Bid Round. Twelve blocks are on offer, 6 on the continental shelf, 4 deep water blocks and two onshore blocks in the Niger Delta. PGS Data covers the offshore Blocks.
Apr 2024: NNPC restarted production from the Awoba field, Awoba Unit straddling OML 18 and 24 in the swamp south of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. First E and P, with NNPC, has also commenced oil production from the shallow water Madu field in OML 85, Bayelsa State. Oil will be processed at the Abigail-Joseph FPSO.
Feb 2024: TotalEnergies (operator, 24%), CNOOC (45%), Sapetro (15%), Prime 130 (16%) and NNPC announced the start of condensate and gas production from the Akpo West field on the PML2 offshore license in 1,375m of water. It is tied back to the existing Akpo FPSO which started-up in 2009.
2023
Jun 2023: TotalEnergies (operator, 40%) and NNPC (60%) made the Ntokon-1AX oil and gas discovery on OML 102 in shallow waters. A side-track, Ntokon-1G1 also encountered light oil. Ntokon is planned to be developed through a tie-back to existing Ofon field facilities.
2022
Dec 2022: The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced the Mini Bid Round 2022. Seven offshore blocks covering an area of 6,700 sq kms in water depths of 1,150m to 3,100m are included.
Nov 2022: UTM FLNG has signed a FEED contract for the development of Nigeria’s first FLNG facility with a capacity to process 1.8bcm a year of gas. It will be located at the Yoho Field in offshore Block OML 204 operated by ExxonMobil, The vessel, should be completed by 2026.
Aug 2022: New PSCs for offshore licences due to expire soon have been signed with Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Eni, TotalEnergies, and Equinor. The parties renewed their agreements in 5 OMLs (128, 130, 132, 133, and 138).
Jul 2022: TotalEnergies (operator, 40%) and NNPC (60%) brought on stream the long-delayed Ikike field in 20m of water in OML 99 in the Niger Delta. Ikike has been developed via a fixed platform tied back to the Amenam facilities via a 14kms multi-phase pipeline. Originally, the Ikike field was due on stream in 2016.
Feb 2022: The FPSO Trinity Spirit has been engulfed in flames following an explosion. Shebah Exploration & Production Co (SEPCOL) has the vessel on lease. The FPSO is the primary production facility for Block OML 108 in 30m of water on the western edge of the Niger Delta. There were 10 crew members on board with some fatalities.
2021
No significant news in 2021.
2020
Nov 2020: First E&P (operator) and NNPC started production from the shallow water Anyala West field in OMLs 83 & 85, Bayelsa State. The Anyala-Madu field project Phase 1 objective is to develop 142 mm bbls of oil and 2.8 bcm of gas with 7 wells using the Abigail-Joseph FPSO. At peak the project will produce 60,000 bbls of oil per day.
May 2020: The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) announced the commencement of the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Round. A total of 57 fields on land, swamp and shallow offshore are on offer.
2019
Dec 2019: NNLNG, comprising NNPC (49%), Shell (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings (15%), and Eni (10.4%) has made the FID for its Train 7 project, increasing the NLNG 6-train facility’s production capacity by 35% from 22 mmtpa to 30 mmtpa. First LNG is expected in 2024.
Aug 2019: Eni (operator, 20%), NNPC (60%) and Oando (20%) have made a significant gas and condensate discovery, through their JV company NAOC in deeper sequences of the onshore Obiafu-Obrikom fields. The volumes are around 28 bcm of gas and 60 mm bbls of condensate. The accumulation will immediately be put onstream.
Mar 2019: The Dutch Public Prosecutor will bring criminal charges against Shell over offshore block OPL 245. Eni and Shell bought the block in 2011 for over US$1bn and in 2014 the Milan Prosecutor launched an investigation to see where the payment went.
2018
Dec 2018: Total (operator, 24%), with SAPETRO (15%), CNOOC (45%) and Petrobras (16%) started production from the Egina field, discovered in 2003 in 1,600m of water, 150 kms off the coast in OML 130. At plateau, the field will produce 200,000 bbls of oil per day through an FPSO. The Preowei discovery may be tied-back to the Egina FPSO.
May 2018: NNPC is to proceed with oil exploration in the Gongola Rift Basin in the northeast of the country commencing with appraisal of the Kolmani River-1 discovery.
2017
Aug 2017: Shell (operator, 30%) started gas production from the 2nd phase of the Gbaran-Ubie project in the Niger Delta. The first phase was commissioned in 2010. Peak production of 175,000 bbls of oil equivalent per day is expected in 2019. Eighteen wells have been drilled and a new pipeline constructed between Kolo Creek and Soku. NNPC, 55%, Total (10%) and ENI (5%) are partners.
Jun 2017: Dependent on an FID, First E&P (operator, 40%) and NNPC (60%) signed an agreement with Schlumberger to develop the Anyala and Madu fields in OML 83 and OML 85 at a combined capex of US$700mm. They are in shallow waters, 40 kms offshore in the Niger Delta and will together produce up to 50,000 bbls per day of oil and around 1.25 bcm a year of gas using an FPSO from 2019.
2016
Oct 2016: ExxonMobil (operator, 27%) announced a significant discovery in the Owowo-3 appraisal well in 576m of water. The Owowo field spans OPL 223 and OML 139. Partners are Chevron (27%), Total (18%), Nexen (18%) and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (10%).
Jun 2016: Oil production disruptions reached 750,000 bbls per day in May; the highest level since 2009. Militants continue to focus on the Niger Delta region where the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) are the most active group conducting attacks on infrastructure.
Jun 2016: Lekoil will begin production from the Otakikpo field, on the coast in the SE of the Niger Delta, in Q3. Phase 1 comprises the recompletion of 2 wells and an Early Production Facility with export via shuttle tanker. Phase 2 will include a new Central Processing Facility and 7 wells, onstream in 2017. Aggregate production of 20,000 bbls per day is planned by the end of 2017.
May 2016: Yinka Folawiyo (operator) and Panoro announced first oil production from the offshore Aje field in OML 113 in the Dahomey Basin in water depths ranging from 100m to 1,000m, 24 kms from the coast. Oil will be stored on the Front Puffin FPSO which has production capacity of 40,000 bbls of oil per day and storage capacity of 750,000 bbls.
2015
Oct 2015: The Aje-5 well on OML 113 has been completed with a subsea tree and the semisub rig has been moved to re-enter Aje-4 well for completion. First oil is expected in early 2016. Yinka Folawiyo is operator with partners; Panoro, New Age, Afren, Energy Equity and Jacka.
Oct 2015: Shell (operator, 55%) announced start-up of Bonga Phase 3 in OML 118, an expansion of the Bonga Main development. Oil will be piped to the Bonga FPSO which has produced over 600 mmbbls of oil to date. Partners are Esso (20%), Total (12.5%) and Agip (12.5%).
Sep 2015: Esso (operator, 56.25%)with Shell (43.75%) started oil production at the Erha North Phase 2 project in 1,006m of water, 7 kms north of the Erha field (producing since 2006). The project includes 7 subsea wells tied back to the existing Erha North FPSO, increasing total production to 90,000 bbls per day.
Sep 2015: Lekoil announced start of oil production from the Otakikpo field in OML 11 near shore in the SE of the Niger Delta. Phase 1 comprises recompletion of 2 wells, an EPF of 6,000 bbls per day capacity and export via shuttle tanker. A second well, Otakikpo-003, will come on stream at year end. Seven new wells are planned by 2017 in Phase 2.
Jul 2015: Panoro (6.502%) announced that drilling has started on the Aje-5 production well on the OML 113 licensein the westof Nigeria in the Dahomey Basin close to the border with Benin. The Aje field is in water depths up to 1,000 m and the well is close to Aje-4 in 300 m. Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum is operator.
May 2015: Erin Energy (100%, formerly Camac) started production from the horizontal Oyo-8 well in 300m of water in the Oyo field, OML 120. It is producing into the FPSO, Armada Perdana and is expected to deliver 7,000 bbls of oil per day.
Mar 2015: Shell assigned its 30% interest in OML 18 and facilities in the Niger Delta to Eroton for US$737 mm. OML 18 includes the Alakiri, Cawthorne Channel, Krakama, and Buguma Creek fields which produce around 14,000 bbls per day. Total and Agip have also assigned their interests bringing Eroton’s share to 45%.
Jan 2015: Total has completed the flare out of the Ofon field on OML 102. The associated gas is now being monetized via Nigeria LNG. The Ofon field is 65 kms offshore in water depths of 40m. It commenced production in 1997. Total is operator (40%) with NNPC (60%).
2014
Dec 2014: Total has started a drilling program at the Egina offshore project in the Niger delta with 2 rigs drilling 44 wells in water depths ranging from 1,400 to 1,700m. Egina will have production of 200,000 bbls per day.
Oct 2014: A Final Investment Decision has been taken to develop the Aje Cenomanian oil reservoir (Phase 1) in OML 113 in water depths up to 1000m at a cost of US$220mm. It comprises 2 subsea wells (one new well) tied back to the Front Puffin FPSO. A separate gas/condensate reservoir will be exploited at a later date. First oil is scheduled for end 2015.
Aug 2014: Jacka Resources reports that first oil from Phase 1 of the Aje field in OML 113 is due at the end of 2015. The field is 24 kms offshore western Nigeria and the operator is Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum. Initial production from 2 wells will be into a leased FPSO at a rate of 10,000 bbls per day with gas used as fuel.
Aug 2014: Shell (operator, 55%) has started oil production from the Bonga North West field. Bonga , which began producing in 2005, was Nigeria’s first development in water depths over 1,000m. Oil from 4 wells in Bonga North West is piped to the Bonga FPSO and loaded onto tankers for export. Other partners are Esso (20%), Total (12.5%) and Agip (12.5%).
Feb 2014: Oil production has commenced from the onshore Opuama field in OML 40 licence. In production from 1975 to 2006, existing infrastructure has been re-commissioned and 2 wells re-opened. Initial output is expected to reach 2,500 bbls per day with oil piped to the Shell Forcados terminal. Opuama is operated by NPDC (55%) along with Eland (45%).
2013
Oct 2013: Lekoil has provided an update on the Ogo-1 sidetrack in OPL310 overlying the Dahommey basin. The sidetrack encountered hydrocarbon intervals in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian reservoirs that were successfully drilled and logged at Ogo-1.
Jun 2013: NNPC has given Total approval to award contracts for the development of the Egina field located in block OML 130 in 1585m of water. Development will require 44 subsea wells connected to an FPSO capable of storing 2.3 mm bbls of oil giving room to accommodate future developments. First oil is expected late 2017 with a plateau rate of 200,000 bbls of oil per day.
Jun 2013: The Ogo-1 well on the OPL 310 licence has discovered a significant light oil accumulation. Drilled by Afren under a farmout to Lekoil, the well has encountered a gross hydrocarbon section of 160m. Ogo-1 confirms the extension of the Cretaceous play that has yielded other significant discoveries along the West African Transform Margin.
Jun 2013: Heritage Oil has announced that production from OML 30 has returned to rates of over 35,000 bbls per day and all of the key fields are in production. The drilling of new wells, planned to commence in the second half of 2014, should provide a significant increase to production with longer term potential estimated at 300,000 bbls per day.
May 2013: Oando Energy Resources successfully tested the Ebendo-5 well, which will contribute an additional 2,500 bbls per day of production on the Ebendo field.
Mar 2013: Mira (48%) and partners Associated Oil and Gas Services and Dansaki Petroleum will develop the offshore Tom Shot Bank Field (TSB) near the Cameroon border. Mira has reported that TSB contains over 22 mm bbls of oil resources.
2012
Nov 2012: Afren has commenced production from the Okoro field extension well, east of the Okoro main field in OML 112 off SE Nigeria. Drilled from the existing Okoro wellhead platform, it came online at a rate of 5,000 bbls per day of 38 degree API oil. Total output increased to about 21,500 bbls per day. The well has been connected to the Okoro FPSO in a water depth of 14m from which production commenced in June 2008. A development well on the Ebok North Fault block discovery, reported in May 2012, is now planned.
Nov 2012: Shell, Total and Eni have sold stakes in 7 blocks within the last 2 years in 5 transactions. The blocks, Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 3, 38, 41, 26, 42, 30 and 34, are now operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). New partners are Seplat Petroleum and Maurel and Prom (OMLs 3, 38 and 41), First Hydro Carbon and Afren (OML 26), Neconde Energy and Kulczyk Oil Ventures (OML 42) and Shoreline/Heritage and Niger Delta E & P/Petrolin (OMLs 30 and 34).
West Africa
