According to the fresh reports, the petroleum corporation has
so far drilled 23 wells, 21 of which have potential of full
prospects of oil.
NNPC is putting last touches to a comprehensive framework
designed to herald the intensification of exploration activities
in the Chad Basin
Nigeria engaged a British company into the exploration that
is already working in the Lake Chad region to put efforts
together.
Moves by the Nigerian government to build up the nations
proven oil reserve through exploration of new frontiers
received a fresh thrust with the news that the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as 21 oil wells out of
the 23 drilled so far have potential of full prospects of oil.
The report from the NNPC showed that a total of 23 oil wells
have already been drilled by mining oil companies that have
been involved in oil exploration in the North in the past 30
years. While only 2 of them were reportedly hit a dry run, 21
other wells were said to hold prospects of oil.
The statement from the NNPC also said that the exploration
of the oil in the North has, so far, gulped a shocking sum of
about N27 billion and $340 million correspondingly.
The corporation is reportedly expecting to receive more
money into the quest – in compliance with the recent
presidential directive to resume oil exploration in the North.
The statement reads in part: “Discoveries made in
neighbouring countries in basins with similar structural
settings are: Doba, Doseo and Bongor all in Chad amounts to
over 2 Billion barrels (Bbbls); Logone Birni in Southern Chad
and Northern Cameroon, over 100 Bbbls; and Termit-Agadem
Basin in Niger totals over 1Bbbls.
“Already the NNPC New Frontier Exploration Services Division
which is leading the charge for crude oil find in the entire
Inland Basins is acquiring 3,550 sq km of 3- D seismic data
for processing and interpretation in addition to the already
acquired 6000km of 2-D data that is currently being
reprocessed.”
“The search is not limited to the Chad Basin alone but covers
extensive inquest in the entire Nigerian Frontier Sedimentary
Basins which includes- The Anambra, Bida, Dahomey,
Gongola/Yola and the Sokota Basins alongside the Middle/
Lower Benue Trough.’’
The attacks of the Niger Delta militants in the south of
Nigeria reduced oil production and partially caused the
country’s recession. Following this President Muhammadu
Buhari two months ago directed the NNPC to escalate search
for oil in the north-east.
The administration started the long-term planned exploration
of crude oil in the north-eastern part of Nigeria which will
reduce the pressure on the Niger Delta region.
In a related development the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ete Ibas said the Nigerian Navy had commenced
deployment of its personnel to the Lake Chad Basin Naval
post to protect Nigeria’s territorial interest on the Lake
bordering Nigeria and countries in the Sahel region
commenced last month.
