Nigeria Targets Fresh 50,000bpd Oil Output With New Crude Grade, Utapate

Nigeria is aiming to boost oil production by additional 50,000 barrels per day, with the launch of a new crude grade, known as Utapate.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which announced the introduction of Utapate crude oil blend, said  the Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July 2024, as its first cargo headed for Spain.

The new crude oil grade has current production of 28,000 barrels per day, and is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s output.

NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, who made this known,  said the new grade, which is a light and low-sulfur

From Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, is fully operated by NEPL, NNPC Ltd’s upstream subsidiary.

Located offshore Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, Utapate’s current crude oil production is at 28,000 barrels per day, with potential to increase it to 50,000 barrels per day. Also, the sulphur content of the new crude is 0.0655 per cent, the national oil firm said.

According to the NNPC, Spanish oil giant Repsol won the tender for the initial cargo of the new crude blend which is comparable to the much sought after Amenam crude. Gulf Transport and Trading, another leading crude oil dealer, have also secured the cargoes’ tenders for August and September 2024.

It also noted that during the Argus European Crude Conference in London last year, NNPC Ltd announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).

“Similar to the Nembe crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.

“This remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow reserves through the development of new assets,” the company said.