TotalEnergies renews production license for OML130 block in Nigeria

French oil and gas company TotalEnergies has announced the renewal of its production license for the offshore OML130 block in Nigeria.

This renewed license grants TotalEnergies the rights to operate in the block for the next 20 years.

Situated 150 kilometers off the coast of Nigeria, the OML130 block is home to the highly productive Akpo and Egina fields. These fields began production in 2009 and 2018 respectively. In the year 2022 alone, the block yielded an impressive daily production of 282,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe/d).

Almost 30% of this production was in the form of gas, which was sent to the Nigeria LNG plant. This gas contribution significantly bolsters Europe’s energy security.

TotalEnergies has further expansion plans for the OML130 block. The French oil and gas company anticipates the commencement of production from the Akpo West field, a short-cycle project, by the end of 2023.

Additionally, the block contains the Preowei discovery, which will be developed through a tie-back to the Egina floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

TotalEnergies extends production license for OML130 block in Nigeria. Image courtesy of TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited holds a 24% interest in the operation and acts as the operator of OML130. The company operates in partnership with CNOOC, which holds a 45% interest, Sapetro with a 15% interest, Prime 130 with a 16% interest, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, serving as the concessionaire of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC).

The renewal of the production license for the OML130 block marks an important milestone for TotalEnergies and its partners, reaffirming their commitment to long-term investment and production in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. With the extension of the license, TotalEnergies aims to maximize the potential of the Akpo and Egina fields, contributing to Nigeria’s energy industry and bolstering Europe’s energy security.

Henri-Max Ndong-Nzue — TotalEnergies Senior Vice President Africa, Exploration and Production said: “Through the OML130 license renewal, TotalEnergies is pleased to continue its contribution to the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This 20-year extension will enable us to move forward with the FEED studies on the Preowei tie-back project which aims to valorize a discovery using existing facilities in line with Company’s strategy focusing on low-cost and low-emission assets.”