ENI Nigeria has recorded a 20% production increase at its Abo asset, the company’s first production overrun in decades, signaling an improvement that was attributed to reduced vandalism, improved asset security, and enhanced operational capacity, particularly in deepwater operations.
The disclosure was made by Mr. Luca Vignati, the Director Upstream, during the high-level delegation from Eni’s visit to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) CCE, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe for strategic discussions aimed at deepening collaboration to boost production, investment confidence, and operational efficiency in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The CCE highlighted that Nigeria’s improving production environment, both onshore and offshore, is already yielding tangible outcomes. He noted that the reduction in vandalism incidents by 90% had unlocked greater asset uptime and boosted operational efficiency across the value chain.
“Our rig count has been growing geometrically, reflecting renewed investor confidence. This momentum reinforces Nigeria’s emergence as a preferred destination for upstream investments” Engr. Komolafe stated.
This, coupled with near-full capacity utilization at Nigeria LNG Train 6 and efforts to fully optimize Train 7, signals sustained momentum in the sector.
The CCE commended ENI for its continued confidence in Nigeria and reiterated the Commission’s dedication to sustaining reforms that support investment growth.
In his remarks, Mr. Luca Vignati, the Director Upstream at Eni, emphasized the positive shift in Nigeria’s operational landscape.
“Nigeria’s production landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last 18 to 24 months. This is a credit to the authorities for providing an enabling environment, and to international oil companies that have recognized the opportunity to operate more efficiently. Contrary to popular perception, international companies are not leaving Nigeria; they are simply moving further into deepwater operations,” Vignati said.
He added, “For the first time in decades, ENI is producing above budget in Nigeria, with a 20% increase at the Abo asset. This is a clear sign of improved operational stability, reduced vandalism, and growing investor confidence in the country’s upstream sector.”
Located in OML 125 deep offshore, Abo was Nigeria’s first deepwater producing field, operated by Eni’s subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), through a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and other partners.
