Kalaekule First Oil Achieves Milestone Amid Production Assessment
A torrent of applause came down on social media in the week of December 15, 2025, responding to the news that the Nigerian offshore Kalaekule field had reached first oil. The shallow water accumulation is located in Oil Mining Lease 72, operated by West Africa Exploration & Production, an upstream subsidiary of the Dangote Group, in Joint Venture with state hydrocarbon company NNPC Ltd.
A ranking NNPC official confirmed to Africa Oil+Gas Report that first oil has indeed happened in the Kalaekule field. However, when pressed for details, she admitted that the company does not yet have a confirmed number for the output. The official explained that they are currently looking for reality, noting that the company had estimates before starting the Extended Well Test, but now reality is what comes out.
The testing process is being conducted methodically, with one string tested at a time. The official emphasized that the important number will emerge when all 12 wells, meaning 24 strings, have been tested and the wells flow together. Only then will the company be able to talk definitively about Kalaekule production levels. The cautious approach reflects the industry’s standard practice of conducting thorough well testing before announcing official production figures.
Source: africaoilgasreport.com
