In a strategic move to enhance Nigeria’s oil production, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has fostered strategic partnership with Schlumberger (SLB), a global oilfield services company.
This collaboration aims to revitalise the nation’s crude oil output, aligning with Nigeria’s goal to increase daily production by 700,000 barrels.
This was initiated when the chief executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe received a delegation from Schlumberger (SLB) led by its global president, Olivier Le Peuch, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The high-level meeting between the NUPRC chief and officials of Schlumberger underscored the Commission’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that would enhance Nigeria’s oil production and operational efficiency.
The purpose of the visit was to explore specific areas of collaboration and partnership between both organisations.
The CCE engaged SLB Global in an extensive discussion aimed at cultivating a long term partnership that aligns with the Commission’s goals and regulatory framework.
During the meeting, Komolafe emphasised that the NUPRC adopts a participatory and collaborative approach to facilitate ease of doing business in the oil sector.
He highlighted several of the Commission’s achievements since its inception in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Key achievements include the establishment of 17 regulations aimed at improving industry standards and operational efficiency.
Additionally, the re-engineering of the Nigeria National Data Repository (NDR) has been a significant milestone, promoting the monetisation of oil blocks and aligning regulations with global energy transition initiatives and carbon footprint reduction goals.
The CCE also mentioned the ongoing licensing rounds as a testament to the Commission’s proactive approach in regulating the sector. One notable achievement expounded upon was the NUPRC’s commitment to eliminating gas flaring and commercialising flared gas under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGCP). This initiative has designated 49 flare sites for commercialisation, demonstrating the Commission’s dedication to environmental sustainability and resource optimisation.
Speaking on behalf of SLB Global, Olivier Le Peuch expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s regulatory framework and indicated SLB Global’s readiness to collaborate.
He reiterated the importance of such partnerships in unlocking Nigeria’s onshore and offshore oil potential, particularly through leveraging advanced technology.
Areas of mutual interest discussed included the development of Nigeria’s frontier basins and the integration of innovative technologies to enhance exploration and production efficiencies.
At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that a contact team would be established to further investigate and identify more opportunities for collaboration.
The team will focus on expanding the scope of mutual interests and ensuring that both organisations can effectively work together to achieve their shared objectives.
