The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has signed a Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) No. 5 agreement with SeaSeisGeophysical Limited, in partnership with TGS, to advance offshore oil and gas exploration through large-scale seismic data acquisition.
The agreement, formally executed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, authorises the acquisition and processing of new 3D seismic and gravity data across a vast offshore block in the Eastern Niger Delta.
The PEL 5 project spans approximately 11,700 square kilometres in water depths ranging from 400 to 2,800 metres, positioning it as one of the most significant offshore data acquisition initiatives in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
The Commission said the licence is expected to unlock stronger hydrocarbon prospectivity, deepen subsurface insights, and support more efficient resource development in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the issuance of the PEL 5 licence underscores the Commission’s commitment to data-driven exploration, transparency, and long-term value creation for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
She noted that improved access to high-quality geoscience data would enhance investor confidence and accelerate exploration activities in frontier and deepwater basins.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of SeaSeisGeophysical Limited, Goke Adeniyi, described the project as the company’s largest in Africa, highlighting Nigeria’s growing attractiveness as a destination for upstream investment.
He said the scale of the PEL 5 project reflects the significant opportunities within Nigeria’s offshore basins and aligns with broader efforts to strengthen the country’s hydrocarbon resource base through modern exploration technologies.
The partnership between NUPRC, SeaSeis, and TGS is expected to generate critical geophysical data that will guide future licensing rounds, reduce exploration risks, and support sustainable growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
