- NNPC shut down the Awoba field in February due to evacuation issues and crude oil theft.
- Since restarting production on April 13, the field has produced 8,000 bpd, expected to plateau at 12,000 bpd at full ramp-up within 30 days.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Co. Ltd. (NNPC) has restarted production from the Awoba field and began production from the Madu field in Nigeria. The company shut down the Awoba field in February 2024 due to evacuation issues and crude oil theft.
Since restarting production on April 13, the field has produced 8,000 bpd, expected to plateau at 12,000 bpd at full ramp-up within 30 days. Awoba is also expected to boost the country’s gas supply significantly.
According to NNPC, the Awoba Unit, which straddles OMLs 18 and 24, is in the mangrove swamp south of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. OML 18 and OML 24 assets are under the management of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).
Furthermore, NNPC and its partner in OML 85, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), have commenced oil production from the shallow-water Madu field. NNPC expects the production from the field offshore Bayelsa State operated by First E&P to be at an average of 20,000 bpd.
NNPC will process the production from the Madu Field at the JV’s Abigail-Joseph Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Unit, which has a crude oil storage capacity of up to 800,000 bbls.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr Mele Kyari, described the commencement of oil production at the Madu Field as a significant milestone that will contribute to the larger goal of meeting the output required to drive revenue growth and boost Nigeria’s economy.
Kyari also explained that the addition of 20,000 barrels per day by an indigenous oil player signals the commitment of stakeholders to achieving economic development for Nigeria.
NNPC Ltd has been recording a string of production successes from its JV portfolio, significantly lifting overall national production. Besides the recent start of production at the Madu Field by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV, the company has restarted production at OML 29 and OML 18 in late 2023, steadily contributing an average of 60,000 bpd to the nation’s output.