Oil Production Boost: Heirs Energies Restarts Key Oil Well to Bolster Nigeria’s Output

Heirs Energies, a wholly indigenous energy company, has announced a significant breakthrough in its operational strategy, successfully restarting a key oil well in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 that had been shut down for an astonishing 37 years. The company’s CEO, Osa Igiehon, made the revelation during a media briefing, stating that the well’s revival was a major milestone for the firm and Nigeria’s energy sector.

Igiehon explained that the well was not technically faulty but had been non-operational for decades due to complex social and security challenges, including issues with host communities that the previous operator could not resolve. “There was nothing wrong with the well technically,” he said. “It was all the ground issues, and we have dealt with all those issues.”

This latest achievement is a testament to Heirs Energies’ “Brownfield Excellence” model, which involves reactivating old and under-producing assets. Since acquiring a 45% stake in OML 17 from Shell, Total, and ENI in 2021, Heirs Energies, in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has demonstrated a remarkable ability to increase production. The company has already doubled the output of the oil block from 27,000 barrels per day (bpd) to over 50,000 bpd within its first 100 days of operation.

The restart of the well adds to the company’s ambitious production targets. Heirs Energies has a clear vision to raise total crude oil output from OML 17 to 100,000 bpd and gas output to 150 million standard cubic feet per day in the coming years. This aligns with the Federal Government’s broader goal of increasing national oil production to stabilize the economy and attract foreign investment.

Heirs Energies has been lauded for its strategic approach, which combines robust security measures with deep community engagement and the use of a 100% Nigerian workforce. The company’s success in restarting a decades-old well highlights the immense potential of indigenous operators to not only unlock untapped reserves but also to navigate the complex social and security landscape of the Niger Delta.