MORGANABLE BUSINESS / INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has urged oil and gas operators to use suitable technologies, intensify exploration and strengthen local expertise to increase Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves.
Akure —
The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has urged oil and gas operators to use suitable technologies, intensify exploration and strengthen local expertise to increase Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves.
The association says these steps are vital to replacing resources extracted from existing fields and securing the country’s long-term position in the global energy market.
NAPE President Olajumoke Cecelia Ajayi made the call as the association prepared for its 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
The event will run from November 8 to 12, 2026, under the theme “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth through Exploration, Local Capabilities and Adaptive Technologies.”
Ajayi said Nigeria could not grow its reserves by relying only on discoveries already made.
Instead, the country must pursue fresh exploration, apply technology suited to local conditions and create an environment that attracts investment.
She stressed that these priorities must work together to deliver lasting results.
TECHNOLOGY SEEN AS KEY TO UNLOCKING RESOURCES
NAPE says technology can help operators locate resources more accurately, improve drilling decisions and recover oil that current methods leave behind.
In mature fields, better data and improved reservoir models can reveal remaining resources.
As a result, operators may extend the productive life of existing assets while limiting unnecessary spending.
At a recent technical meeting, NAPE urged operators to combine seismic interpretation, geological knowledge and reservoir behaviour when planning field development.
This approach can help companies build a more reliable picture of underground formations before committing funds to drilling.
NAPE has separately highlighted adaptive technology as a priority for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Ajayi said operators should not simply import technology without considering the country’s geology, operating conditions and economic realities.
Instead, they should select or adjust tools to solve specific local challenges and deliver measurable benefits.
EXPLORATION MUST REPLACE DEPLETED RESERVES
Alongside technology, NAPE wants Nigeria to expand exploration in both mature and frontier basins.
Mature areas may still hold oil that operators can recover through deeper drilling, redevelopment and improved recovery methods. Frontier basins, meanwhile, need careful technical work to establish whether their resources can support commercial production.
Ajayi has warned that Nigeria must replace reserves as companies extract oil from existing fields. Recent industry reporting cited a decline in estimated oil reserves from about 39 billion barrels to 37 billion barrels.
That figure underlines the need for sustained exploration, although reserve estimates can change as companies make discoveries, revise data and produce oil.
The association has urged operators to look beyond established petroleum areas, including the Niger Delta.
Exploration in frontier basins could widen Nigeria’s resource base, but companies need dependable geological information before making large investments.
Better seismic surveys and other technical studies can help investors assess the risks and potential returns.
A predictable regulatory system could help investors plan projects with greater confidence. Clear licensing rules, reliable data and timely approvals can also make exploration more attractive.
At the same time, authorities must ensure that development follows environmental standards and protects host communities.
LOCAL EXPERTISE MUST GROW
NAPE has placed indigenous capacity alongside exploration and technology as a central part of its strategy.
The association says Nigerian professionals and companies need stronger technical, professional and business capabilities to take part across the petroleum value chain.
Building those skills could also help retain more value within the domestic economy.
Local expertise matters because technology delivers limited benefits when operators lack the people needed to apply it effectively.
Training, research partnerships and practical experience can help Nigerian geoscientists, engineers and other specialists master new tools.
In addition, collaboration between universities, service companies and operators can connect research with real industry needs.
The association’s conference will provide a forum for discussing these priorities. Its programme will cover geoscience, reservoir characterisation, exploration and production technology, energy financing, education, health and safety, environmental management, and relations with host communities.
It will also examine how the Petroleum Industry Act and local-content policies can support industry development.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science are among the wider topics expected to feature in discussions.
These tools can help specialists process large datasets, spot patterns and improve technical assessments.
Nevertheless, companies must validate their results and combine digital analysis with sound geological judgement.
CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON INVESTMENT AND ENERGY SECURITY
NAPE’s annual conference comes as Nigeria seeks to raise petroleum output, strengthen energy security and attract new capital.
The gathering is expected to bring together explorationists, engineers, regulators, policymakers, investors, technology providers and oil and gas companies.
Their discussions will focus on practical ways to turn resource potential into commercial production.
The programme will include management and executive sessions, a Techbusiness Forum, technical presentations, exhibitions and networking activities.
The management session will consider how Nigeria can strengthen energy security amid global disruption.
The executive session will address fiscal stability, governance reforms and investment growth across the energy value chain.
The Techbusiness Forum is expected to connect technology providers with operators and investors.
Such engagement could help Nigerian businesses display their capabilities, develop partnerships and identify solutions for exploration, drilling, production and asset management.
However, commercial outcomes will depend on whether companies adopt the solutions and commit funding to suitable projects.
NAPE’s message is that reserves growth requires more than a single technological breakthrough.
Exploration must identify new resources, technology must help operators assess and recover them, and local expertise must support effective delivery.
Investment and stable rules must also enable projects to move from technical evaluation to development.
For Nigeria, the challenge is to convert underground potential into proven reserves and reliable production.
Technology can improve that process, but it cannot replace exploration, skilled people or sound commercial decisions.
By bringing these elements together, the industry may improve recovery from existing fields while testing new areas for future discoveries.
