Chevron strikes oil off Nigerian coast

Discovery, made with partners including Exxon Mobil, is 70 miles offshore and under nearly 17,000 feet of water.

LAGOS (Reuters) – Energy major Chevron and partners including Exxon Mobil have made a first discovery of crude oil in an exploration block 70 miles off the Nigerian coast, Chevron said Wednesday.

Chevron (Research) said in a statement the partners struck oil in the Uge-1 exploration well in Oil Prospecting License 214. The well, under 16,831 feet (5,130 meters) of water, was drilled down to a depth of 4,144 feet below the seabed.

“This discovery is a further demonstration of how we are achieving superior success from a focused and high-impact exploration program,” Chevron President John Watson was quoted as saying in the statement.

Chevron is the third-biggest producer of crude oil in OPEC member Nigeria, Africa’s top exporter.

Reuters