Erin Energy Corp. (NYSE: ERN) has commenced production from the Oyo-7 well in OML 120 offshore Nigeria, the company said in a news release.

Erin Energy is the operator of the field and has a 100% interest in the block.

Oyo-7 was drilled to a total depth of about 2,438 m (8,000 ft) and was completed horizontally in the Pliocene formation, the company said. The well is located in about 300 m (1,000 ft) of water and is producing into the Armada Perdana FPSO vessel.

The well is expected to produce about 7,000 barrels of oil per day following optimization of choke size.

“We will be working over the next few days to optimize the flow rate,” said Segun Omidele, senior vice president of E&P for Erin Energy. “Bringing this well on production will double our current production rate out of the Oyo Field.”

Erin Energy drilled the Oyo-7 with two planned objectives: to target the Pliocene formation from which it is now producing and to test the deeper Miocene formation for hydrocarbon potential, according to the release. The well confirmed hydrocarbon in the Miocene formation, which was previously undrilled on the block, de-risking the Miocene in the company’s offshore Nigeria blocks. The company’s planned Miocene exploration program targets recoverable P50 resources of nearly 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent, the release said. Erin Energy plans to drill its first Miocene exploration well in fourth-quarter 2015.