Top Locations of Crude Oil in Nigeria: Full List
There are many states where crude oil can be found in Nigeria. While we have taken time to list out the highest oil producing states in the country, we will list out all places where crude oil is located including the history and companies exploring this natural resource.
For record purposes, crude oil was first discovered in Oloibiri in 1956 in the Niger Delta by Shell-BP. By 1958, Nigeria became one of the world’s oil producers when its first oil well produced 5,100 bpd.
The History of Crude Oil in Nigeria
Shell Petroleum company began its drilling work in 1951 even before the discovery of oil in Oloibiri. In fact, the first test well that was drilled in the country was in Owerri (current Imo state) with little success. It was until in 1953 that oil was discovered in non-commercial quantities at Akata, near Eket.
After spending £6 million in exploration, the company later discovered oil in Oloibiri in commercial quantity in what was a successful feat and has been the leading factor to other findings over the years.
At first, the sole concessionaire of oil exploration in the country was giving to Shell-BP (being the first company that discovered it), but as time passed, other oil companies were also awarded exploration license with the right to explore both onshore and offshore locations.
One of the great successes Shell recorded in terms of oil discovery was in 1965 when the company discovered the EA field in the shallow waters of the southeastern part of Warri in Delta state.
Presently, Nigeria has a total number of 1481 oil wells with 159 registered oil fields in operation according to available data from the Department of Petroleum Resources. The South-South geopolitical zone of the country is the region where the most productive oil fields are located in the country, with 78 oil fields recorded alone in the Niger Delta states.
This year, Nigeria recorded an average production of 2.5 million barrels of crude oil daily which makes her the largest producer of crude oil in Africa.
With this record, the production of petroleum in Nigeria has contributed majorly to the gross earnings of the nation.
The oil producing states in the country are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Imo and Rivers respectively.
Top Locations of Crude Oil in Nigeria: Full List
#1. Abia State
Abia State is one of the places where you can find crude oil in Nigeria. A total number of about hundred oil wells can be found there including three installed flow stations.
The Boundary Commission in 2012 announced that 42 oil wells from Rivers State has been returned to Abia which has seen Abia ranked as the fourth largest oil producing state in the county and the first in the south-east.
With 36,000 barrels of crude oil produced per day, Imoturu town is the area in Abia state where about 23,000 barrels are produced per day.
#2. Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom is also among the highest oil and gas producing states in the federation producing about 550,000 barrels of oil on a daily basis.
Located at the south-south region of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom is one of the richest states in the country this 2018.
Top petroleum companies like Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Total, NNPC are found in this state.
#3. Bayelsa State
Bayelsa is among the Niger-delta states in the country that has lots of crude oil deposits. In fact, Oloibiri in Bayelsa was the first place where oil was founded in the country.
Even though this rare natural resource is found in this state, its inhabitants still wallow in poverty.
#4. Delta state
Delta state is another location in the country where oil and gas deposits can be found in large quantities.
In fact, Delta has been ranked among the largest deposits of crude oil and natural gas with an output of 350 thousand barrels produced daily in the country.
Also, mineral resources like limestone, tar, fine sand, silica, industrial clay and kaolin can be found within the state.
#5. Edo state
Edo state is located in southern Nigeria and she has been ranked as the seventh largest producer of oil and gas in the country this 2018. Most oil wells in this state are owned by wealthy Northerners.
#6. Imo State
This is the first state in the south eastern region of Nigeria where oil was found. With over 163 oil wells at 12 different locations in the state, Imo state claims its bragging rights among the rich states in the country.
Some of local government areas/locations in Imo state where oil is found include: Ohaji, Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Iho, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala.
#7. Lagos State
Lagos state is currently the richest state in the country and was recently added to the list of oil producing states after oil wells were found in the state in 2016.
Daily production of oil is estimated at 39,000 barrels puts Lagos at 6th position as to where oil is located in Nigeria. Lagos is also the state with the highest internal generated revenue in the country.
#8. Rivers State
Rivers state has been at the forefront in terms of oil production in the country. With an estimated 344,000 barrels produced per day, Rivers state is the highest oil producing state in Nigeria.
Aside this feat, there are many multinational oil companies located in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state. The state has an internal generated revenue of over $40 million with a GDP of $21.073 and a per capita of $3,965.
The above are the states where you can find crude oil in Nigeria.
