Specialist upstream, midstream, and downstream advisory
Nigeria\'s oil and gas sector remains the cornerstone of the national economy. With the landmark enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), structural licensing and regulatory oversight have modernized. Medina Law Associates & Co. provides market-leading advisory services to upstream exploration companies, oil service firms, and gas-to-power operators.
We guide clients through the competitive bidding and licensing processes of the NUPRC, negotiate Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs), advise on local content requirements overseen by the NCDMB, and structure gas sales and purchase agreements (GSPAs) for midstream markets.
PIA Regulatory Transition
We help oil concession holders convert legacy OMLs and OPLs to modern Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPL) and Petroleum Mining Leases (PML) under the new PIA fiscal regimes.
Local Content Audits
We verify that joint operating agreements, oil service provider bids, and staffing plans satisfy local content parameters to secure NCDMB approvals.
Our Core Capabilities
- Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) and conversion registrations.
- Negotiation and drafting of Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs) and farm-out deeds.
- Representation before the NUPRC, NMDPRA, and Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
- Compliance auditing under the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act.
- Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements (GSPA) and gas-to-power structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) regulates all upstream activities, including concession allocations, reservoir management, technical safety standards, production reporting, and the collection of upstream royalties.
A Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) governs the relationship between co-venturers in an oil block concession. It defines who acts as Operator, how operational costs are shared, voting structures for project approval, and default procedures if a partner fails to meet cash calls.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act mandates that first consideration be given to Nigerian independent operators and local services in all projects. Non-compliance can lead to project suspensions or heavy administrative penalties from the NCDMB.
A GSPA is a commercial contract governing the sales and delivery of natural gas from a producer to an industrial buyer or power plant. It features strict take-or-pay clauses, quality specifications, delivery pressure requirements, and pricing formulas.
