Nigeria’s crude oil landscape is gradually being reshaped by two relatively new additions—Utapate and Cawthorne—whose combined output has begun to reinforce national production figures and broaden export options.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission shows that both crude grades, introduced in 2024 and early 2026 respectively, contributed significantly to output between January and May 2026, even though one of them is yet to meet its official production expectations.
Collectively, the two streams delivered about 12.16 million barrels within the five-month period, with Utapate accounting for 8.75 million barrels and Cawthorne contributing 3.41 million barrels.
Utapate Output Rises, but Targets Still Out of Reach
Produced from Oil Mining Lease 13 in Akwa Ibom State, the Utapate crude blend has shown steady month-on-month improvement, though it continues to lag behind its ambitious production target of 80,000 barrels per day.
In January 2026, average output stood at 55,190 barrels per day, translating to 1.71 million barrels for the month. Production edged higher in February to 57,970 barrels daily, yielding 1.62 million barrels.
March recorded a marginal increase to 58,020 barrels per day, equivalent to 1.80 million barrels, while April marked the peak at 59,290 barrels per day, producing about 1.78 million barrels. By May, output slightly eased to 59,170 barrels per day, though total production still reached approximately 1.83 million barrels due to the longer calendar month.
Despite this gradual upward movement, the field consistently remained more than 20,000 barrels per day below target. The shortfall ranged from 24,810 barrels daily in January to 20,830 barrels in May.
“We are targeting 80,000 bopd” — NNPC’s Earlier Projection
At the launch of the Utapate crude blend in July 2024, Managing Director of NNPC E&P Limited, Nicholas Foucart, expressed optimism about scaling up output.
“We have several ongoing projects to increase our production from the current 40,000 bopd to 50,000 bopd by January 2025, and 60,000 bopd to 65,000 bopd by June 2025. Essentially, we are targeting opportunities to increase production to 80,000 bopd by the end of 2025,” he said.
The field, which began production in May 2024, was expected to hit that milestone by the end of 2025, but current figures suggest the timeline has not yet been achieved.
Foucart also described the crude’s introduction as a breakthrough moment, saying, “We have several ongoing projects…” and emphasising expansion plans aimed at sustained growth.
Export Expansion and Technical Profile of Utapate
Utapate crude was first introduced to international markets following a maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels shipped to Spain. The grade, produced and exported in partnership with Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited and NNPC Ltd, is noted for its low sulphur content of 0.0655 per cent and reduced carbon footprint driven by flare gas elimination.
The development is part of operations in OML 13, which holds estimated reserves of 330 million barrels of crude oil, 45 million barrels of condensate, and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.
According to Foucart, the infrastructure supporting the project was designed with environmental compliance in mind:
“The Utapate crude oil terminal is sustainable, affordable and fully compliant with the rigorous environmental regulations and sustainability principles, especially those aimed at reducing carbon emissions and other ecological effects,” he stated.
Cawthorne Emerges as a Fast-Rising Crude Stream
Another key contributor to Nigeria’s output growth is the Cawthorne crude blend, which added 3.41 million barrels between January and May 2026.
Production rose sharply from 12,340 barrels per day in January to 16,450 barrels in February, before climbing further to 23,970 barrels in March. April saw a strong peak of 30,970 barrels per day, while May settled slightly lower at 28,940 barrels daily.
Monthly volumes followed the same trajectory: 382,540 barrels in January, 460,600 in February, 743,070 in March, 929,100 in April, and 897,140 in May.
“A significant milestone” — NNPC on Cawthorne Export
The commencement of exports was confirmed by Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, who announced that the first cargo was lifted to the Netherlands aboard the MT Eburones vessel.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has commenced export of its new crude grade, Cawthorne, marking a significant milestone in the company’s drive to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams,” he said.
Odeh also highlighted the crude’s quality, stating: “Cawthorne blend crude… has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it firmly within the light, sweet category, comparable to Bonny Light, and highly valued in the global market for its superior petrol and diesel yields.”
The cargo was exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading facility offshore Bonny, which supports evacuation from OML 18 and improves export efficiency.
OPEC Quota Performance Adds Broader Context
The latest production gains come alongside Nigeria’s broader output performance. The country recently exceeded its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota, producing an average of 1,530,354 barrels per day in May 2026—about 102 per cent of its 1.5 million barrels-per-day allocation.
When condensates are included, total production rose to 1.7 million barrels per day, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer.
Broader Picture: Growth Tempered by Structural Gaps
While Utapate and Cawthorne are clearly strengthening Nigeria’s crude basket and export diversity, the data also highlights persistent gaps between projected and actual output.
Still, their combined contribution of over 12 million barrels in just five months underscores their growing strategic importance in stabilising revenues and supporting Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflows at a time of fluctuating global energy markets.