Heirs Energies has successfully doubled production at OML 17, one of Nigeria’s oldest onshore oil fields, by reactivating previously inactive wells and optimising existing infrastructure—without drilling new wells. The company calls this strategy “brownfield excellence,” focusing on maximising existing assets rather than pursuing fresh drilling projects.
Speaking at a recent Lagos event to mark new gas offtake agreements, Heirs Energies CEO Osa Igiehon highlighted the company’s commitment to delivering results while overcoming longstanding operational challenges.
“OML 17 is a 67-year-old asset that once exemplified the difficulties of onshore oil production in Nigeria. Over the past five years, we have transformed it into one of Africa’s leading assets,” Igiehon said.
The production turnaround was achieved through innovation, reactivation of shut-in wells, and strategic optimisation of infrastructure, all carried out by a fully Nigerian team. The company also focused on mitigating operational, regulatory, and social risks that had historically hindered output.
“We have achieved high operational uptime of 85–90 per cent, de-risking issues that once held back the field. Our strong relationships with regulators, joint venture partners, and host communities have been key to this success,” he added.
Heirs Energies has applied the same approach to gas production, increasing output from 50 million standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) to over 120 million scf/d. The increased supply has significantly boosted electricity generation in eastern Nigeria, with the company now supplying roughly 100 million scf/d to the domestic market.
“Our gas production strategy is entirely focused on domestic supply. By reactivating idle wells and completing stalled projects, we have strengthened energy access for homes, businesses, and industries across the region,” Igiehon said.
The CEO described OML 17 as just the starting point for the company’s broader ambitions to meet Africa’s energy needs. “We are committed to expanding our brownfield approach to address Nigeria’s and Africa’s growing energy demands,” he noted.
Heirs Energies operates OML 17 in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The field holds over 1.5 billion barrels of oil and more than 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it a major contributor to the country’s energy supply.
