Nigeria Active Drilling Rigs Registers Over 300% Activities

Nigeria currently has more than 100 drilling rigs, with ⁠46 active this year, up more than 300 per cent from 2021 levels, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

This is as the upstream oil regulator has approved 145 new well-drilling operations, 595 well re-entries and ‌39 field development plans (FDPs) so far this year as it seeks to boost crude output, attract investment and strengthen energy security.

The NUPRC, said ⁠the approvals reflected faster regulatory processing that has reduced project delays and costs for operators

”Year to date, about 39 FDPs have been approved. About 145 new well-drilling approvals granted. Year to date, about 595 well re-entry approvals were granted,” The NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said at an oil conference in Lagos

Eyesan, represented by Ahmad Abdullahi, ‌deputy ⁠director of basin administration, said faster approvals were helping operators advance projects needed to meet production targets and support energy availability

Eyesan also said seismic companies had invested more than $100 million ⁠in Nigeria since the Petroleum Industry Act came into force three years ago, improving exploration data and supporting ⁠efforts to discover new oil and gas reserves

The regulator is also working to curb crude theft across the country.