The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited/Heirs Energies joint venture (JV) has achieved an ‘industry-first’ rigless recompletion of a major non-associated gas well in oil mining lease (OML) 17.
Rigless recompletion is a method used in the oil and gas industry to restore or improve production from an existing well without bringing in a full drilling rig.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chidimma Ugbojiaku, Heirs Energies spokesperson, said the intervention doubled the JV’s gas output to 135 million standard cubic feet per day (scf/d).
“The NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture (JV) has achieved a major breakthrough with the innovative, rigless recompletion of a key non-associated gas well in OML 17,” the statement reads.
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Ugbojiaku further explained that the well had previously been shut in due to excessive water production.
She said the JV opted for a rigless through-tubing recompletion into an untapped reservoir instead of drilling a new well.
Ugbojiaku said the job was completed safely, ahead of schedule, and at 15 percent of the cost of drilling a new well.
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The spokesperson added that the achievement sets a new benchmark for cost-effective, high-impact field development in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the milestone has significantly enhanced domestic gas supply and reinforced the country’s energy security.
‘INCREASE IN PRODUCTION HAS IMPROVED POWER GENERATION’
Ugbojiaku said the significant production increase has improved power generation across the eastern network.
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“Transcorp PLC – TransAfam Power, one of Nigeria’s leading power generation plants, has quadrupled its output, rising from an average of 50 megawatts to more than 180 megawatts, with peaks of 200 megawatts,” she said.
“Other power plants also supplied by the network, including First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) and Geometric Power, have also recorded more stable operations and higher generation.
“In total, the power plants now receiving gas from the Joint Venture have seen combined output surge from around 100 megawatts to more than 350 megawatts.”
Ugbojiaku also said the increased power generation “provides enough energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses”.
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She said Olu Verheijen, special adviser on energy to President Bola Tinubu, called the feat “a testament to Nigerian engineering excellence”.
Verheijen also assured the company of continued federal support as it expands its role in unlocking national energy resources.
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Also commenting, Udy Ntia, NNPC’s upstream vice-president, said the project demonstrates the company’s dedication to harnessing Nigeria’s gas potential.
“The performance of the JV shows how partnership and innovation create substantial value for Nigeria,” he said.
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Also, Seyi Omotowa, chief upstream investment officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), said the drilling activity aligns with the company’s drive for safe and efficient upstream operations.
“It is a model for the innovative solutions needed to optimise Nigeria’s hydrocarbon assets,” he said.
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Omotowa added that the JV remains dedicated to gas-focused, technology-driven projects that boost supply and support economic growth.
On his part, Osa Igiehon, chief executive officer (CEO) of Heirs Energies, said the achievement highlights the firm’s capability in managing brownfield assets.
“The ingenuity and resilience of our 100 per cent Nigerian workforce made this possible,” he said.
Igiehon added that the company will continue supporting Nigeria’s gas-to-power agenda through innovation-led operations.
