Petroleum Engineers Take Measures To Address Declining Oil Production

As Nigeria witness declining oil production due to aging oil assets, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Port Harcourt Section 103 has concluded arrangements for a critical industry dialogue on Nigeria’s oil output challenges, as it convenes the Well Intervention Summit (WIS) 2026 from March 31 to April 1, 2026, at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre.

The summit comes amid mounting concerns over declining productivity from ageing oil wells, rising operational costs, and the urgent need to maximise value from existing assets in a capital-constrained environment.

Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of the SPE Port Harcourt Section 103, Pringle Egbe, underscored the strategic importance of well intervention in sustaining Nigeria’s oil production.

“At a time when Nigeria must do more with existing assets, well intervention is no longer optional; it is central to sustaining production, improving efficiency, and securing the future of our energy sector.

The WIS 2026 is designed to drive practical solutions and meaningful collaboration across the industry.”

With the theme, “Challenges, Collaboration and Conformance: Innovating the Future of Well Intervention for Nigeria’s Production Goals,” the summit will focus on operational efficiency, cost optimisation, regulatory alignment, and performance-driven outcomes across the upstream segment.

Industry stakeholders note that the timing of the summit is critical, as both Nigeria and the global energy market witness a shift away from aggressive exploration towards optimising existing assets. With tighter capital budgets, escalating costs, and increasing pressure from the energy transition, operators are prioritising enhanced oil recovery and extending the lifespan of mature fields.

In Nigeria, these challenges are more pronounced. The country’s heavy dependence on ageing wells, many of which are plagued by declining output, integrity issues, deferred maintenance, and high intervention costs, continues to limit production capacity and revenue generation.

The SPE Port Harcourt Section 103 said WIS 2026 will spotlight advanced well intervention technologies, digital solutions, and integrated asset management strategies aimed at unlocking stranded production and improving well performance. It added that the summit would also strengthen collaboration among operators, service providers, and regulators to align industry efforts with national output targets.

The event will feature a lineup of key industry figures, including Edirihin Eta, vice president, Well Engineering at Heirs Energies; Ebenezer Ageh, chief technology officer at Aradel Holdings; Abdulrahman Mijinyawa, vice president, Development, Wells and Technology at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited; Akintunde, chief operating officer of Geoplex Drillteq Limited; and Victor U. Georgeson of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), among others.

These speakers are expected to lead keynote sessions and panel discussions, offering insights into emerging technologies, global best practices, and innovative approaches to well intervention.