Discoveries and improved reservoir management added 2.5 billion bbl to Nigeria's oil reserves during 1990, pushing total remaining reserves to 18.5 billion bbl.
The industry's 1990 performance outstripped estimates that placed reserve growth last year at 1.1 million bbl. This would have increased total reserves to 17.1 billion bbl.
Oil Minister Jibril Aminu said the combine of Shell Petroleum Development Co., Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., Nigerian Agip Oil Co., and Elf Nigeria made the biggest contribution to the reserves increase. Drilling by the combine added 1.1 19 billion bbl, with another 507 million bbl from reservoir management improvements.
The successful drilling campaign by the group continued into 1991. In the 6 months to the end of February, two exploration wells and eight appraisals proved up 722 million bbl.
The two wildcats yielded 239 million bbl of reserves from 537 ft of net oil sands. Four of the appraisals were offshore. The eight appraisals logged a total of 2,320 ft of net sands.
Shell has been running 3-D seismic surveys to define the extent of the discoveries, the first of which is due on stream later this year.
Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
