At a Glance
- Imperial rig begins three-year campaign to increase Obodo crude production efficiently.
- Conoil extends partnership with Shelf Drilling for reliable offshore operations.
- Local investment boosts Nigeria’s offshore sector recovery and production stability.
Nigeria’s offshore oil sector gets a boost as Conoil Producing deploys the Imperial drilling rig at OML 150.
The three-year campaign aims to increase production of the Obodo crude blend while enhancing reservoir efficiency.
Partnering with Dubai-based Shelf Drilling Ltd., Conoil signals confidence in local capacity and strengthens its role in Nigeria’s post-pandemic offshore oil recovery. The project highlights homegrown investment driving national oil production stability.
Extending a trusted partnership
The rig’s arrival follows Conoil’s decision to extend its partnership with Dubai-based Shelf Drilling Ltd., its longtime offshore contractor. The new deal, which runs from early 2025 through 2027, includes an option for a further year. Both firms have worked together for more than eight years, a relationship built on reliability and steady performance.
Shelf Drilling runs several jack-up rigs across West Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Its Adriatic I rig previously supported Conoil’s operations in OMLs 153 and 59, handling drilling and field work in Nigeria’s shallow waters.
Raising confidence in local capacity
By bringing in the Imperial rig, Conoil is widening its operational reach and showing faith in the long-term value of its offshore assets. Industry watchers see the move as a sign of quiet recovery in Nigeria’s upstream sector, one being led by local firms investing in their own growth rather than waiting for outside help.
Conoil’s latest campaign highlights how homegrown producers and service providers are keeping activity alive in the post-pandemic energy space. With a dependable partner in Shelf Drilling and steady spending on proven assets, the company is reinforcing its role in national production. The project also aligns with the government’s goal of stabilizing output and drawing fresh investment into the country’s oil industry.
