Network E&P, operator of the Qua Ibo field, onshore south east Niger Delta, was rattled by its encounter of only gas in Qua Ibo-5, the well it drilled and finalised in July 2026.
“We found gas and not the oil intended”, company sources say.
The company is not immediately drilling another well, as the drilling was only meant to be a one well-for-infill project. “We have to carefully interpret the result we just had”.
Network started production on the field in 2016, after drilling Qua Ibo -3 and Qua Ibo-4. Output had dropped from a peak of 2,000Barrels of Oil Per Day (BOPD) to below 1,000BOPD. The drilling of Qua Ibo-5 was intended to shore up the output.
Network won the Ebiya field (PPL 2A40) in Nigeria’s just concluded Bid Round 2025.
