By Yemie ADEOYE

IN keeping with its target to grow production to 250,000 barrels per day by 2015, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, the Exploration and Production subsidiary of NNPC, has commenced aggressive drilling on some of its oil mining leases, leading to increased production, which in effect boosts the nation’s 2.6 million barrels.

The latest development is the successful drilling of Okono 6 and 7 oil wells in its OML 119, which are currently yielding 12,000 barrels per day.

Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Victor Briggs, explained that Okono 6 and 7 wells were significant not just because they represented the company’s independent efforts at growing production, but the prolific nature of the wells, which were producing at an average of 6,000 barrels per day, against the older wells which produced at an average of 3,000 barrels per day.

He said: “From 2010 till date, our production rose from 65,000 to 130,000 barrels per day, a bulk of the increase consists of assets handed over to us upon divestment by some of our JV partners.

“But we realised that for us to meet the target of 250,000 barrels per day by 2015, we need to build on this by exploring further afield and drilling more wells. Okono 6 and 7 wells represent our success story in this direction.”

He added that the target was to drill 40 wells in the next five years as part of its growth projection.