NNPC discovers crude oil in commercial quantities on the border of Bauchi and Gombe states

NIGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) managers have revealed that they have discovered crude oil and gas reserves in the Kolmani River Basin on the border between Bauchi and Gombe states in the northeast of the country.

Since 1958, Nigeria has been an oil-producing country but all the crude has been located in the country's southern coastal strip. Nigeria's Niger Delta has been the country's cash cow, supplying over 95% of crude oil, which accounts for about 90% of government revenue and despite a lot of effort and expenditure, no fossil fuels have been located in northern Nigeria after decades of prospecting.

This is despite the fact that northeast Nigeria lies within the Lake Chad Basin and other countries that are adjacent to it like Cameroon and Chad have all discovered oil deposits. However, according to the NNPC, crude oil, gas and condensates have now been discovered in the Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough in the Gongola Basin in northeast Nigeria.

NNPC spokesman Samson Makoji, said the corporation acquired 435.54km2 of 3D Seismic Data over Kolmani Prospect in the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin. He added that the well was drilled with Ikenga Eig 101 to a total depth of 13,701feet encountering oil and gas in several levels, adding that a drill stem test is currently on-going to confirm the commercial viability and flow of the Kolmani River reservoirs.

Mr Makoji said: “On Thursday 10th October, 2019, at 18 02 hours, one of the reservoirs was perforated and hydrocarbon started flowing to the well head at 21 20hours in which the gas component was flared to prevent air charge around the rig. Preliminary reports indicate that the discovery consists of gas, condensate and light sweet oil of API gravity ranging from 38 to 41 found in stacked siliciclastic cretaceous reservoirs of Yolde, Bima Sandstone and Pre-Bima formations.

"Computation of hydrocarbon volume is on-going and will be announced in due course. The corporation has also acquired additional 1183km2 of 3D seismic data over highly prospective areas of Gongola Basin with a view to evaluating the full hydrocarbon potential of the basin."

He added that attention would be given to the Dahomey and Anambra Basins which have already witnessed oil and gas discoveries. According to Mr Makoji, the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantity in the Gongola Basin will attract foreign investment, generate employment for people and increase government revenues.