NUPRC Approves 145 New Wells, 595 Re-entries, 39 Field Development Plans in 2026

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has approved 145 new well-drilling operations, 595 well re-entries and 39 field development plans (FDPs) so far this year as the country seeks to boost crude oil production and attract investment.

The chief executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this on Tuesday at an oil conference in Lagos.

Mrs Eyesan, represented by the Deputy Director of Basin Administration, Mr Ahmad Abdullahi, said the approvals reflected faster regulatory processing, which had reduced project delays and operating costs for oil companies.

She said the commission had granted 145 new well-drilling approvals and 595 well re-entry approvals, alongside 39 field development plan approvals year-to-date.

According to her, faster regulatory approvals were helping operators advance projects required to meet production targets and strengthen energy availability.

“From the regulator’s perspective, to ensure that our energy security is not threatened, we must ensure that we approve Field Development Plans and new well-drilling applications to meet our production targets and guarantee energy availability,” she said.

Mrs Eyesan also disclosed that Nigeria had more than 100 drilling rigs, with 46 active this year, representing an increase of more than 300 per cent from the 2021 level.

She further said seismic companies had invested more than $100 million in Nigeria since the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) came into force three years ago, improving exploration data and supporting efforts to discover new oil and gas reserves.

The regulator, she added, was also working to curb crude oil theft across the country.