NUPRC APPROVES 595 WELL RE-ENTRIES, 145 DRILLING OPERATIONS IN 10 MONTHS

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has approved 595 well re-entry operations and 145 drilling activities within 10 months, highlighting increased activity in the country's upstream oil and gas sector.

The approvals reflect efforts to improve oil and gas production by encouraging operators to revive existing wells, develop new reserves and expand exploration and production activities.

According to NUPRC Chief Executive Officer, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the approvals were granted between January and October 2026. She disclosed the figures during a management session at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

The commission also approved 39 Field Development Plans within the period, while Nigeria's total rig count increased to 100, with 46 rigs actively involved in drilling operations.

Eyesan attributed the improvement partly to faster regulatory approval processes, which have helped reduce delays and costs for operators awaiting clearance to execute projects.

She stressed that approving new drilling applications and field development plans was essential to meeting Nigeria's production targets, strengthening energy security and ensuring adequate energy supply.

The NUPRC chief also identified the Petroleum Industry Act as an important factor in restoring investor confidence in the sector. She disclosed that multi-client seismic companies had invested more than $100 million in seismic data acquisition in Nigeria within three years of the law's enactment.

The investments are expected to improve geological knowledge of Nigeria's sedimentary basins and support the identification of additional oil and gas reserves.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, called for greater focus on translating approved investments into actual production, industrial growth and economic benefits.

She cited the IMA gas field, discovered in 1973 but reaching a final investment decision in September 2026, as an example of the lengthy delays that have affected petroleum projects.

The latest approvals represent a significant level of regulatory activity as Nigeria seeks to attract investment, increase hydrocarbon production and strengthen its position in the global energy market.