…looks to spur exploration, drilling activities
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is looking to spur new exploration and drilling activities in the country’s prospective deep waters with the commencement of its 2022 mini-bid round.
Seven blocks, covering an area of approximately 6,700 sq km in water depths of 1,150m to 3,100m, are up for grabs in the mini-bid round, which process is in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The seven blocks on offer are located within the Gulf of Guinea, offshore Nigeria at approximately 150km southeast of Lagos Port ranging between 1,000 metres and 2,000 metres in water depth.
Blocks PPL-300-DO, PPL-301-DO, and PPL-302-DO are located in the Nigerian Transform Margin area, while blocks PPL-303-DO, PPL-304-DO, PPL-305-DO, and PPL-306-DO are within the deep-water Niger Delta Basin.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Gbenga Komolafe, its Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC, which is the statutory body responsible for ensuring compliance with petroleum laws, regulations, and guidelines in the Nigerian upstream petroleum industry, said it would manage the mini-bid round process in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the 2022 Petroleum Licensing Round Regulations, and other enabling laws.
The Commission said the mini-bid round is a market-driven programme that would follow a transparent and competitive procurement process designed to attract competent third-party investors from across the world who have the capability and proficiency in operating in deepwater environment.
“The National Data Repository of NUPRC and our multi-client partners are delighted and ready to support the Mini Bid Round underpinned by high- quality datasets. The blocks have extensive 2D and 3D seismic data coverage, including multi-beam and analog data,” NUPRC said.
“Additionally, a remarkable quality, 3D MegaSurveyPlus reprocessed Pre-stack Time Migration (completed October 2022), with angle stacks and gathers is also available to prospective bidders,” it said.
The Commission said links to all data can be accessed via the dedicated NUPRC portal.
The NUPRC had earlier scheduled January 16, 2023 for a pre-bid conference to be held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The conference is intended to provide potential applicants with an opportunity to ask questions concerning the mini-bid round processes and requirements.
The Commission said interested companies would be invited to submit pre-qualification applications by January 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, Komolafe said the mini-bid round would build on the successes of the last bid round held in April 2007 during which a total of 45 blocks, drawn from the Inland Basins of Anambra, Benue and Chad; the Niger Delta Continental Shelf; Onshore Niger Delta and Deep Offshore were put on offer.
The 2007 bid round, he said, was held under a different regulatory regime (the Petroleum Act, 1969) and generated massive interest and participation with its attendant revenue which made the exercise a success.
The success of the 2022 mini-bid round, the NUPRC chief said, would ensure all stakeholders gain value from the country’s resources while paying close attention to reduction in carbon emissions, as well as overall environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.
He said the Commission has published a dedicated programme portal (br.nuprc.gov.ng) for the mini-bid round, assuring that it would continue to provide further details and roadmap for the mini-bid round.
