Photo L-R: Dr. Anthony Ofoma, NAPE’s President-elect, Aminu Maitama,Managing Director, Somo Services Ltd, NAPE President Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, Livinus Kigbu, Manager at NNPC-ENSERV
The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has emphasized the increasing role of integrated non-seismic technologies in reducing exploration risk and lowering costs in Nigeria’s frontier basins.
The position was outlined during NAPE’s February Technical/Business Meeting held in Lagos, themed “From Kolmani to New Frontier: Reducing Exploration Risk and Cost Through Integrated Non-Seismic Technology.”
Delivering the technical presentation, Livinus Kigbu, Deputy Manager, Formation Evaluation at NNPC-EnServ, discussed how combining non-seismic technologies with conventional seismic data can enhance subsurface imaging while optimizing exploration expenditure.
He identified magnetotellurics (MT), controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM), stress field detection (SFD), gravity surveys, and thermo-vision tomography as complementary tools capable of improving data confidence when integrated with seismic datasets.
According to Kigbu, while seismic acquisition remains a core exploration method, it can be capital-intensive and time-consuming. Integrating multiple datasets, he noted, may reduce acquisition time and improve decision-making efficiency.
“Exploration is about risk reduction,” Kigbu said, explaining that combining different datasets increases confidence in subsurface interpretations and prospect validation.
He added that telluric and electromagnetic technologies can probe depths of approximately 10 to 12 kilometres, offering potential advantages in complex geological terrains when calibrated against existing well and seismic data.
Discussions also referenced activity in Nigeria’s frontier basins, including the Dahomey Basin and the Kolmani area.
On the Eva-1 project in the Dahomey Basin, Kigbu described it as a re-entry campaign focused on validating hydrocarbon shows and assessing well integrity. He disclosed that more than 40 convolutional tomography profiles have been acquired to support evaluation efforts.
Regarding the Kolmani field, currently operating under a Funding and Technology Service Agreement, he said activities remain at the validation stage. Kolmani River 1 was described as a discovery, with earlier operational challenges linked to formation evaluation difficulties in high-temperature subsurface environments.
He noted that some wireline formation testing tools encountered technical limitations due to extreme downhole temperatures. Service companies, including Halliburton, were acknowledged for technical interventions aimed at addressing these challenges.
Addressing cost considerations, Kigbu cited examples where integrated workflows delivered measurable cost efficiencies, though he noted that savings vary depending on project scope, geological complexity, and operational parameters.
Participants at the meeting observed that while non-seismic technologies show promising technical results, full validation ultimately depends on successful commercialization and sustained field development.
Chairing the session, Aminu Maitama, Managing Director of Somo Service Limited, encouraged continued collaboration among operators, service providers, and regulators to support the commercialization of discoveries and enhance technical innovation.
In her opening remarks, NAPE President Mrs. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi described the Technical/Business Meeting as a platform for professional development, knowledge exchange, and strategic dialogue within Nigeria’s evolving oil and gas landscape. She encouraged robust engagement and forward-looking discussions.
In his closing remarks, NAPE President-elect Dr. Anthony Ofoma acknowledged the association’s executive members for organizing the event and thanked corporate sponsors and partners for their continued support of NAPE programmes.
As Nigeria seeks to expand exploration in frontier basins and optimize upstream investments, industry stakeholders continue to explore technologies that can improve subsurface certainty while managing costs. Integrated non-seismic methods are increasingly being evaluated as complementary tools within broader exploration and appraisal strategies.
