By Ozemoya Okordion

Over two decades, Erha evolved from frontier exploration into a producing asset sustained by Nigerian people, companies, and capability, reflecting a deliberate, end‑to‑end build‑up of national content.

March 27, 2026, marked twenty years since first oil flowed from the Erha Field, a defining moment not only for Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), but for Nigeria’s journey into deepwater oil and gas development.

EEPNL entered Nigeria’s deepwater frontier in May 1993, when it acquired exploration rights to Offshore OPL 209 (later converted to OML 133). At the time, Nigeria had limited footprint in deepwater operations, fabrication, subsea systems, or FPSO‑based production.

The discovery of hydrocarbons at Erha field in 1999 confirmed world‑class reserves. But it also laid bare a national challenge: Nigeria would need new skills, infrastructure, and institutions to fully participate in deepwater development.

From the outset, EEPNL recognized that success would demand more than oil production; it would require intentional Nigerian value creation. As field development planning matured in the early 2000s, EEPNL made a defining decision: Nigerian Content would be embedded as a core project objective through the asset life cycle.

For Nigeria, the relative policy predictability, demonstrated support for frontier deepwater development and favorable environment that drew leading EPCI contractors into the country was a key enabler for the project and sustained value creation through the asset operational life cycle.

By start‑up, Erha had recorded over 1.7 million contract man‑hours worked in Nigeria, with Nigerians making up 85 per cent of FPSO operations personnel, while hundreds received specialized fabrication, subsea, and offshore training.

After training completion, EEPNL conducted approximately 800 competency assessments across 90 critical operating procedures, ensuring that Nigerian personnel could safely operate and maintain the FPSO and subsea systems.

EEPNL’s confidence in Nigerian capability was reinforced during Erha North Phase 2, which achieved first oil in 2015, five months ahead of schedule and significantly under budget.

Across the next decade, Erha transitioned into a mature deepwater asset, operated, maintained, and sustained largely by Nigerians.

The Erha field continues to operate safely and efficiently, producing approximately 75,000 barrels per day, with indigenous personnel forming over 95 per cent of the offshore workforce.

From exploration in 1993 to sustained operations in 2026, Erha tells a uniquely Nigerian Content story, one built deliberately, executed consistently, and sustained over two decades.

• Okordion is Communications and Media Manager for ExxonMobil  affiliates in Nigeria

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