…up from 70MMscf/d in 2021
…. drives combined output of TransAfam, FIPL & Geometric power plants from 100MW to 350MW
Oredola Adeola
The NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture has boosted its gas production to a peak of 135 million standard cubic feet per day through the deployment of a rigless solution on a key non-associated gas well, up from 70 MMscf/d recorded in 2021.
Chidimma Ugbojiaku, Head of Corporate Communications at Heirs Energies, disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday and obtained by Advisors Reports.
According to her, the pioneering intervention — the first of its kind in Nigeria — has doubled the JV’s gas output to 135 MMscf/d, significantly boosting domestic gas supply and reinforcing the nation’s energy security.
The company noted that the surge in gas production has transformed power generation across the eastern network, with Transcorp PLC’s TransAfam Power quadrupling output from an average of 50MW to over 180MW, peaking at 200MW.
Other plants on the network, including First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) and Geometric Power, have also achieved more stable operations and increased generation.
Advisors Reports’ gathered that the power plants now supplied by the JV have seen combined output jump from about 100MW to over 350MW, enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, reduce blackouts, and support hospitals, schools, factories, and critical infrastructure.
Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, has commended Heirs Energies CEO, Osa Igiehon, and the entire team for the breakthrough, describing it as a testament to Nigerian engineering excellence and sustained technical innovation.
She assured the company of her continued support as it expands operations to unlock more oil and gas resources needed to power homes, industries, and commercial activities nationwide.
Heirs Energies explained that the well responsible for the milestone had been previously shut due to excessive water production, but instead of drilling a new well or conducting a conventional workover, the company executed a rigless through-tubing recompletion into a previously untapped reservoir.
The operation, completed safely and in record time at only 15% of the cost of drilling a new well, sets a new benchmark for rigless solutions in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd., said the intervention underscores NNPC’s commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential in support of national development, while highlighting the value created through partnership, discipline, and innovation.
Engr. Seyi Omotowa, Chief Upstream Investment Officer at NUIMS, noted that the project aligns with NUIMS’ focus on safe, efficient, and value-driven upstream operations, describing it as a model for the kind of innovative solutions needed to optimise the nation’s hydrocarbon assets.
Osa Igiehon, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, said the milestone further demonstrates the company’s strong expertise in managing brownfields, crediting the achievement to the ingenuity, resilience, and technical excellence of its 100% Nigerian workforce.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s gas-to-power agenda through innovation-led and performance-driven upstream operations.
Heirs Energies Limited, regarded as Africa’s leading indigenous integrated energy company, continues to focus on meeting the continent’s energy needs while aligning with global sustainability standards.
With its emphasis on innovation, environmental stewardship, and community development, the company remains at the forefront of Africa’s evolving energy landscape, contributing to a more resilient and prosperous future for the region.
The NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture reaffirmed its commitment to driving gas-focused, innovation-led developments aimed at expanding domestic gas supply, strengthening power generation, enhancing local capacity, and supporting wider economic and industrial growth, reinforcing its mission to deliver energy that powers homes, industries, and national prosperity.
