NUPRC, SLB forge partnership to boost oil production

Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin

Lagos — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC,  and international oil services company Schlumberger, SLB, have expressed their commitment to fostering strategic partnership that would enhance Nigeria’s oil production and operational efficiency.

This came as the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe received a delegation from Schlumberger led by its global president, Mr. Olivier Le Peuch, at the commission headquarters in Abuja.

The purpose of the visit was to explore specific areas of collaboration and partnership between both organisations.

Komolafe engaged SLB in an extensive discussion aimed at cultivating a long-term partnership that aligns with the Commission’s goals and regulatory framework.

During the meeting, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe emphasised that the NUPRC adopts a participatory and collaborative approach to facilitate ease of doing business in the oil sector. He highlighted several of the Commission’s achievements since its inception in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. Key achievements include the establishment of 17 regulations aimed at improving industry standards and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the re-engineering of the Nigeria National Data Repository, NDR, has been a significant milestone, promoting the monetization of oil blocks and aligning regulations with global energy transition initiatives and carbon footprint reduction goals.

Komolafe also mentioned the ongoing licensing rounds as a testament to the Commission’s proactive approach in regulating the sector. One notable achievement expounded upon was the NUPRC’s commitment to eliminating gas flaring and commercialising flared gas under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, NGCP. This initiative has designated 49 flare sites for commercialisation, demonstrating the Commission’s dedication to environmental sustainability and resource optimisation.

Speaking on behalf of SLB, Mr. Olivier Le Peuch expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s regulatory framework and indicated SLB Global’s readiness to collaborate. He reiterated the importance of such partnerships in unlocking Nigeria’s onshore and offshore oil potential, particularly through leveraging advanced technology.

Areas of mutual interest discussed included the development of Nigeria’s frontier basins and the integration of innovative technologies to enhance exploration and production efficiencies.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that a contact team would be established to further investigate and identify more opportunities for collaboration. The team will focus on expanding the scope of mutual interests and ensuring that both organisations can effectively work together to achieve their shared objectives.