After over three years of suspension of crude oil production operations in Awoba Oil Field in River State, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday announced the resumption of production operations on the oil field.
The Chief Communications Officer of the oil company, Olufemi Soneye, recalled that the Awoba field last produced oil for the Bonny Terminal was in 2021 and was ultimately shut down in February 2022 due to problems with evacuation and crude oil theft.
Soneye mentioned that since the reactivation of the Awoba field by NNPCL and its Joint Venture partner – Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd – on April 13, 2024, the field’s production had averaged 8,000 barrels per day.
This is even as he disclosed that the field was anticipated to reach a steady output of 12,000 barrels per day once fully ramped up within 30 days.
According to the spokesman, Awoba is also expected to significantly boost gas supply to the power sector and other gas-based industries.
The CCO stated: “Keen on optimising production from the nation’s hydrocarbon assets to boost revenues and meet the nation’s OPEC production quota, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and its Joint Venture partner in the Awoba Unit Field, Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd., have restarted production from the Awoba field which last contributed production to the Bonny Terminal in 2021 and was finally shut down in February 2022 due to evacuation issues and crude oil theft.
“Since the restart of the Awoba field by NNPC Ltd and it partners on April 13, 2024; production from the field has averaged 8,000 barrels per day and is expected to plateau at 12,000 per day at full ramp up within 30 days.
“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. Both OML 18 and OML 24 assets are under the management of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS),” Soneye added
Clarifying further, the oil company disclosed that it had been recording production successes from the JV portfolio, which in recent weeks had significantly increased the country’s crude oil production.
For instance, Soneye noted that in addition to the recent kick off of crude oil production at the Madu Field in a JV venture with First E&P JV, the company successfully resumed production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023, both of which have continued to add an average of 60,000 barrels per day to the national production output since their restart.
He stated: “NNPC Ltd has been recording a string of production successes from the JV portfolio which have significantly lifted overall national production.
“Besides the recent start of production at the Madu Field by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV, the company has achieved the restart of production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023 which have steadily contributed an average of 60,000bpd to the nation’s production output since their restart.
“Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mallam Mele Kyari, ascribed the achievement to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s success in providing enabling operating environment for businesses to thrive”, Soneye added.
