Aradel Holdings Strikes First Oil at Omerelu Field in Rivers

Peter Uzoho

Aradel Holdings Plc has announced a significant milestone in the history of the company’s operations, with the successful re-entry of Well 2ST in the Omerelu Field, which resulted in the attainment of First Oil on Friday 31st May 2024.

In a statement issued yesterday, the indigenous oil producer said attaining First Oil from Omerelu would enhance the company’s production capabilities and would contribute to its growth and sustainability goals through its fully owned subsidiary, Aradel Energy Ltd.

The company has received approval for well testing which would culminate into conversion of the field’s Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) into a Petroleum Mining Lease (PML), following necessary regulatory procedures.

The well re-entry was part of Aradel’s Exploration and Appraisal Drilling Campaign for 2024, to develop and optimise existing assets.

Throughout the process, the company adopted the highest safety standards and levels of environmental stewardship, according to the statement.

Additionally, the company said cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies were used, which were central to the successful re-entry and completion of the well operations.

Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Aradel Holdings Plc, Adegbite Falade, stated, ‘‘This milestone marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to resource development and unleashing growth.

“The development of Omerelu Field will further extend our reserves profile, and overall production levels. Attaining First Oil from the Omerelu Field reinforces our strategic vision of delivering sustainable energy solutions that support economic growth.

“The achievement of First Oil would not have been possible without the unwavering support and collaboration of all our stakeholders, including vendors, local communities, regulatory agencies, and our dedicated employees.”

He added that “Their collective efforts have been instrumental in overcoming the challenges and complexities associated with the re-entry and well-completion processes.’’

The Omerelu Field is now in PPL 247 and is about 42km North-West of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. Aradel Energy Ltd acquired a 100 per cent stake and operatorship of the Omerelu Field in 2014 from the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture.