NOG 2026: Ntia Advocates Shared Infrastructure to Cut Deepwater Oil Production Costs

The Executive Vice President, Upstream, of NNPC Limited, Udy Ntia, has advocated a shared infrastructure model for Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas operations, saying the approach will significantly reduce deepwater development costs, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the country’s long-term crude oil production capacity.

Ntia made the submission on Wednesday while speaking at a high-level panel session titled “Maximising Offshore Investments: Succeeding in Complex Energy Frontiers” during the ongoing NOG Energy Week 2026 in Abuja.

Speaking before industry stakeholders, Ntia described NNPC Limited as a strategic system integrator in Nigeria’s offshore sector, stressing that the company is driving collaboration among operators to maximise investments in deepwater projects.

According to him, the collaborative model encourages operators to share critical infrastructure, including drilling rigs and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, instead of making separate investments in identical facilities.

He noted that the shared infrastructure framework is expected to lower project costs, enhance production efficiency in technically challenging offshore fields, accelerate project execution, and improve the commercial viability of deepwater developments.

Ntia added that the initiative aligns with NNPC Limited’s broader strategy of promoting operational efficiency, attracting investment into Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, and ensuring the country’s long-term energy security through sustainable offshore production.

The panel also featured the Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria, Jagir Baxi, and the Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Dr. Richard Orianzi. The discussion was moderated by Oliver Onyekweli of McKinsey & Company and focused on strategies for unlocking greater investment opportunities in complex offshore energy frontiers.