NNPC plans 4 oil wells drilling on Gongola Basin in 2018

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said four oil and gas wells were being planned for drilling on the Gongola Basin to further test the prospects identified around the Kolmani River-1, Nasara-1 and Kuzari-1 in 2018.

The corporation said the drilling of the wells would go on while it awaits the return of normalcy to the Chad Basin.

A statement from the NNPC said its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this shortly after being conferred with the honourary fellowship of the Society in Kano, on Tuesday.

NNPC had in 2016 announced that it had embarked on a more rigorous exploration for oil in the Gongola and other inland basin using the latest seismic data gathering technology.

The statement signed by NNPC spokesman Ndu Ughamadu said that on the Chad Basin exploration, the GMD observed that the corporation planned to drill four wells in areas that it has acquired 1, 961kmsq 3D seismic data out of 3,550kmsq planned.

He said NNPC would be going into the deeper Maiduguri sub-basin to acquire more 3D seismic data as soon as normalcy returns to the Chad basin.

“While waiting for normalcy to return to the Chad Basin, we have stepped up efforts in the Lower Benue trough. So far, we have acquired 20km of 2D data out of the planned 455km 2d seismic data,” he added.

The GMD described as “saddening” last year’s unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of some University of Maiduguri staff working on the Chad basin exploration as well as the loss of one of the corporation’s staff working on the Benue Trough exploration.

“I pledge on behalf of the NNPC that their sacrifice shall not be in vain. There is no better way to honour the efforts of our gallant heroes than to continue the good work they died for,” he added.