Oil Mining Lease 55 (OML 55) stands as a significant hydrocarbon asset in Nigeria’s prolific Niger Delta region. Located approximately 40 kilometers west of the Bonny Terminal, this block covers an expansive area of 852 square kilometers and lies within the mangrove swamp and shallow offshore belt in the southeastern part of the delta. OML 55 stretches 65 kilometers from east to west, occupying a vital position in the coastal depobelt of Nigeria’s primary oil-producing region.
OML 55 was previously managed by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture. However, in February 2015, operational control shifted to Belemaoil Producing Limited under a joint venture partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Since the transition, Belemaoil has actively driven development and optimization across the lease’s productive assets.
The block is surrounded by several high-value and strategically important oil blocks including OMLs 11, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 29, 52, 72, and 74. This clustering increases its strategic value, particularly in pipeline routing, export logistics, and shared infrastructure development.
Currently, five fields within OML 55 are producing: Robertkiri, Idama, Jokka, Inda, and Belema North. Among them, the Belema North Field holds a special operational significance due to its unitization with the OML 25 concession, located directly southwest of OML 55. This collaborative arrangement enhances resource optimization and aligns with regulatory requirements for efficient field development across boundary zones.
Production from the block currently averages between 9,000 and 14,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), with considerable potential for future output increases. Additionally, the lease contains more than 70 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) in recoverable natural gas volumes, positioning OML 55 as a dual-resource asset capable of supporting both oil and gas growth strategies.
In line with national energy transition goals, the natural gas reserves present an opportunity for commercialization that supports domestic energy demands and provides feedstock for downstream industries. This aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing push to harness gas as a transition fuel while reducing flaring and strengthening energy access nationwide.
Further exploration and development activities are being considered within OML 55. The block’s subsurface potential, combined with new seismic data and advanced drilling technologies, opens the door for deeper reservoir penetration and enhanced recovery methods. Both infill drilling and step-out appraisal campaigns are on the horizon, signaling a new phase of capital investment.
Belemaoil’s operation of OML 55 demonstrates growing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s upstream sector. With a strategic location, proven reserves, and ongoing investment, OML 55 is poised to remain a key contributor to national production and economic growth.
As the Federal Government intensifies efforts to attract private capital and expand domestic participation in the oil and gas sector, assets like OML 55 highlight the potential for local operators to manage world-class assets with efficiency, innovation, and profitability.
