THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd.) and its Joint Venture partner in the Awoba Unit Field, Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd., have resumed crude oil production in Awoba Field, River State, for the first time since 2021.
The resumption followed incidences of oil theft and evacuation problems that characterised operations in the area, which have been brought under control.
Oil exploration and resumption are also expected to support Nigeria’s quest to meet the monthly quota of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of 1.7 million barrels per day/bpd production and shore up the foreign exchange reserve.
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The spokesperson for the NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, made this disclosure in a statement on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Abuja.
The statement noted that the Awoba Field last produced oil for the Bonny Terminal in 2021 and was ultimately shut down in February 2022 due to problems with evacuation and crude oil theft.
Soneye explained that since NNPC Ltd and its partners reactivated the Awoba Field on April 13, 2024, the field’s production has averaged 8,000 barrels per day.
Moreover, he said the field was anticipated to reach a steady output of 12,000 barrels per day once fully ramped up within 30 days.
According to Soneye, Awoba is also expected to significantly boost gas supply to the power sector and other gas-based industries.
The Awoba Unit, which straddles OMLs 18 and 24, is located in the mangrove swamp south of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) manages both OML 18 and OML 24 assets.
Speaking further, the National Oil Company noted that it has been recording a string of production successes from the JV portfolio which have significantly lifted overall national production.
The NNPC revealed that in addition to the recent initiation of production at the Madu Field by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV, it successfully resumed production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023, which it said had consistently added an average of 60,000 barrels per day to the national production output since their restart.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.