Oil drilling in Kolmani still at appraisal stage — NUPRC

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stated that oil drilling at the Kolmani oil field is still at appraisal stage to confirm its commercial viability. Speaking during a media workshop for energy Correspondents in Abuja, NUPRC’s Senior Manager, Wells & drilling service, Sunday Ala, explained there are currently two oil rigs at the […]

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stated that oil drilling at the Kolmani oil field is still at appraisal stage to confirm its commercial viability.

Speaking during a media workshop for energy Correspondents in Abuja, NUPRC’s Senior Manager, Wells & drilling service, Sunday Ala, explained there are currently two oil rigs at the field exploring the quantity of crude oil at the site.

“We have some work going on in Kolmani, and we currently have two rigs involved in appraisal drilling. If the data meets the minimum requirements, that work will be reclassified as development drilling, allowing us to add production from that axis,” he stated.

Ala who explained that there are two key types of drilling, exploratory and appraisal, which often come before full-scale development. 

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He said exploratory drilling is aimed at making new discoveries, while appraisal drilling is used to confirm the commercial viability of an existing find.

He added that appraisal well is currently being drilled in Nasarawa State, adding that  capital commitment in the northern frontier is still modest as the region remains largely in the exploration phase.

It would be recalled that the GCEO of Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, recently announced plans to resume operations at the oil field.

The announcement came two years after former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Kolmani oil drilling project, marking the first-ever crude oil exploration in northern Nigeria. But the project was stalled soon after it was flagged off.

Speaking during an interview with the BBC, Ojulari had urged residents of the region to remain calm, assuring them that drilling activities would resume.

He said, “We will continue the drilling in Kolmani and other sites. Beyond oil exploration, we are also committed to completing the gas pipeline project from Ajaokuta to Kano.”

The NUPRC Senior Manager stated that Nigeria now has rigs deployed across all major terrains, land, swamp, and offshore, with three currently operating in deepwater locations.

“This expansion in rig presence has contributed significantly to the steady output levels we’re seeing. Since the spike in rig count began, we haven’t dropped below 1.6 million barrels per day. As of yesterday, production was well above 1.7 million,” he added.

He added that the multiplicity of rigs has opened up the employment space for more jobs, ensuring a boost in economic activities.

According to a chart presented, the rig count slumped to as low as six in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the enactment of the PIA. However, following the passage of the legislation, the figures steadily climbed, reaching 24 by January 2023.

The commission recorded a brief dip in March 2023 to 20, but by September of the same year, the average rig count had surged to 31. This growth trend continued into 2024 and early 2025, with a sharp rise observed between June and August 2024, increasing from 29 to 38 rigs.

By January 2025, the industry recorded an average of 39 rigs, marking a 145 per cent increase from January 2020 and demonstrating a resurgence in exploration and drilling activities.

He added that over $8bn has been expended by the rigs to drill and initially complete approximately 236 wellbores to Total Depth since 2022. 

“The rigs are playing key roles in executing the 120 approved Field Development Plans between 2022 and to date to unlock a projected 4.7billion barrels of oil and 29.26 Trillion Cubic Feet of gas in place.

On his part, the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said the country’s rig count has seen a sharp rise, increasing from just eight in 2021 to 31 in January 2025, and further climbing to 46 by July 2025, representing a 475 per cent increase over a four-year period, and a 48 per cent rise within the first seven months of 2025 alone.

He attributed the steady growth in rig count to the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021 and the commission’s unwavering commitment to increasing oil production in the country.

Komolafe said, “The commission commenced operations just less than four years ago. We took off at a time when the production declined to about one million barrels, but now, we are oscillating around 1.7 million barrels.

“Rig count was also at an abysmal level. And of course you know that rig count is a very key metric for measuring vibrancy and performance in the industry, because it is a key equipment on which you drill the oil and reveals the level of vibrancy, activities in the industry.