– Industry leaders, including Earth Scientist Onyeji John Bosco and Chairman Dr. Jide Olufuyi, champion data-driven approaches to reduce drilling downtime.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – May 20, 2026 — The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has successfully hosted its May Technical/Business Meeting , themed “Unlocking Drilling Efficiency Through Systematic Management of Geological Non-Productive Time (GNPT)“, at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The highly anticipated session, proudly sponsored by Chevron , brought together geoscientists, engineers, industry executives, and policymakers to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in hydrocarbon exploration: Geological Non-Productive Time (GNPT) —the costly downtime caused by unexpected subsurface conditions.
Event Highlights
– Digital Registration Powered by BOCA IT SYSTEMS LTD.
– Guests arrived to a seamless check-in experience, with digital registration efficiently powered by BOCA IT SYSTEMS LTD., setting the tone for a well-organized, tech-enabled event.
The programme proceeded as follows:
– Welcome Address – Delivered by the Publicity Secretary
– Recognition of Dignitaries – Including the Speaker, Chairman, Past Presidents, Fellows, and President-Elect
– Welcome Remarks – Mrs. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi FNAPE , NAPE President
– Keynote Presentation – Mr. Onyeji John Bosco , Earth Scientist, presented “Unlocking Drilling Efficiency Through Systematic Management of Geological Non-Productive Time (GNPT)”
– Chairman’s Summary/Review – Dr. Jide Olufuyi , FNAPE, MD & CEO, LOJ Engineering Consultants Nig. Ltd.
– Q&A Segment – Moderated by the Chairman, Mr. Jide Olufuyi and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Somime Oguntola
– Sponsor’s Remarks – Chevron
– Presentation of Gifts – By NAPE President to Chairman, Speaker, and Panelists
– Announcements – By the Publicity Secretary
– Celebration of Fellows Over 80 Years – Honouring elder statesmen of the industry for the month of May
– Vote of Thanks
– Networking Lunch
Speaker’s Core Message: Data is the Antidote to Downtime
Delivering the keynote presentation, Mr. Onyeji John Bosco , an accomplished Earth Scientist, emphasized that Geological Non-Productive Time remains one of the biggest drains on drilling budgets and operational timelines across the Nigerian upstream sector.
“GNPT is not always preventable, but it is always manageable. The key lies in systematic data integration, cross-block learning, and a culture of documenting and sharing subsurface surprises,” Bosco told the audience.
He outlined strategies including:
– Pre-drill geological risk assessment
– Real-time formation evaluation
– Post-mortem analysis of unexpected lithologies
– Inter-operator data collaboration
Chairman’s Perspective: Dr. Jide Olufuyi
Dr. Jade Olufuyi , FNAPE, MD & CEO of LOJ Engineering Consultants Nig. Ltd., who served as Chairman of the session, reinforced the urgency of addressing GNPT.
“Every hour lost to unplanned geological events is money that could have been invested in exploration or local content development. We must treat GNPT as seriously as we treat equipment failure—because its impact is just as costly,” Dr. Olufuyi stated.
NAPE President Shares Invaluable Field Experience
During the Q&A review segment, Mrs. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi FNAPE , NAPE President, captivated the audience with a real-life example that perfectly illustrated the speaker’s thesis.
She recounted:
“You know, when you were talking about formation and all that, just what came to mind was one of the wells I drilled some years back, in a field that had about six wells, so you can say you have more information. We went to the seventh well, and we encountered something we didn’t understand.”
“We changed our leads about seven times. You know, we’ll go in, come out, then we now saw that it was pyrite. There was no other well around that area that encountered it.”
“So we had to now start scouting, you know, the same strike direction. We went into other blocks, all different operators: ‘Did you ever encounter it?’ And we now found out that three blocks away from us, on the same strike direction, one of them encountered it, and it also had similar experience.”
“So we had to now sidetrack, and completed the well, and discovered two new reservoirs we never expected.”
“Now that we have data, it’s another one that can be put aside for others also to use for their own planning. Thank you very much. It’s really an insightful presentation.”
Her testimony underscored the documentary value of cross-operator data sharing —a recurring theme of the meeting.
Digital Innovation: NAPE Launches Conference App
In a major digital milestone, NAPE announced the official launch of its NAPE Conference App —an all-in-one platform for registration, networking, schedules, technical posters, and resource access.
“We are in the digital world, and we also are moving along with that. So we have our conference app for this year, and it is officially out,” a representative announced.
“You can stay at the comfort of your home office, anywhere you are, and register within three minutes. It’s so easy, and it is self-explanatory.”
Key features of the app include:
– Seamless conference registration
– Access to abstracts, brochures, PDFs, and links
– Networking with attendees
– QR code check-in for exhibitor booths
– Registration for side events and boot sessions
The app is available via the web version, with Google Play Store and Apple App Store launches scheduled for August 2026.
“Fast, simple, modern, smooth, and innovative. Bringing people together in a smarter way.”
Looking Ahead: Next Technical Meeting & Annual Conference
DASCENARIO reports that the meeting also served as a launchpad for upcoming industry engagements:
– Port Harcourt Chapter Meeting | May 29, 2026 | Impact of Detailed Fault Characterization for Field Development Planning | Presented by Kufoma Agbominor (Shell)
– Lagos Technical Meeting | June 24, 2026 | Geomorphology and Evolution of Submarine Channel Levee Complexes in Deep Water Nigeria | Sponsored by TotalEnergies |
– NAPE Annual International Conference & Exhibition | November 8–12, 2026 | Sponsorship opportunities open across multiple categories
“If we have opportunities open for sponsorship, we encourage both people that have sponsored in the past and new sponsors to come on board,” the association announced.
Special Recognition: Fellows Over 80
In a heartwarming segment, NAPE celebrated its Fellows aged 80 years and above for the month of May—a tribute to the pioneers who laid the foundation for Nigeria’s petroleum exploration industry.
Sponsor’s Remarks: Chevron
Chevron, the proud sponsor of the May Technical Meeting, reaffirmed its commitment to knowledge-sharing and operational excellence in Nigeria’s upstream sector. The company was recognised for its sustained support of industry capacity-building initiatives.
Votes of Thanks & Networking Lunch
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks, followed by a scrumptious buffet that offered attendees valuable networking opportunities—exchanging ideas, contacts, and potential collaborations.
