As part of efforts to consolidate implementation of policies to build in-country capacity to grow the oil and gas industry, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) and CB Geo-Solutions, an indigenous firm, last Friday, signed the first-ever contract for the acquisition and development of 3D seismic data services to boost oil and gas development and production in the Niger Delta.
Speaking shortly after signing the contract on behalf of SCiN, General Manager, Development, Bayo Ojulari, praised CB Geo-Solutions for blazing the trail in such a strategic field where only international oil companies (IOCs) had dominated in the past, and assured that if the trend is sustained, local companies may soon surpass the IOCs in providing quality seismic data services for the industry.
Ojulari said that as a top player in global oil and gas industry, Shell would continue to provide level-playing field for all companies, irrespective of domiciliation, to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, noting that companies like CB Geo-Solutions which excel in delivering quality services would continue to get support to prove their capabilities.
He cautioned the firm to pay priority to issues of HSSE, and play by acceptable industry rules, saying that diligence, accountability and transparency, commitment and honesty in all its activities would help sustain the momentum, and open the floodgates for more rewarding opportunities.
The general manager said that CB Geo-Solutions has proven that it can compete favourably with any IOCs which specialize in seismic data acquisition and development, and encouraged it to explore opportunities in other oil and gas fields in Africa, where IOCs control seismic data acquisition and management, for more breakthroughs.
In his remarks, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development (NCD), Igo Weli, said that Shell was leading the advocacy for local content development because of its conviction that the active participation of Nigerians in the industry would fast-track economic growth and engender sustainability by creating more jobs, empowering businesses and the people while at the same time securing the stability and security of the nation.
Weli expressed the hope that the emergence of CB Geo-Solutions as a certified pre-sack migration of 3D seismic data services provider for a major oil and gas player, Nigerian economy would soon galvanise potential resources available to drive sustainable development, and emphasized the need to increase local capacity and capability to support the industry grow.
Chairman, CB Geo-Solutions, Dr Bank Anthony Fubara, who also signed for the company, expressed satisfaction with Shell for making his dream of Nigerian companies participating as players in strategic areas of the industry a reality, saying that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), have over the years relentlessly partnered Shell to achieve this goal.
Fubara, a one-time NSE and PETAN president, thanked Shell for the opportunity given CB Geo-Solutions to compete with leading industry players in seismic data acquisition and studies, and challenged other IOCs to emulate Shell by encouraging local companies to participate actively in the development of the industry.
Managing Director, CB Geo-Solutions, Chidiebere Offor, assured consolidation of gains already made by excelling in delivering quality jobs, saying the company would use the window provided by the one-year call-off contract to prove that indigenous companies can deliver internationally-acceptable quality seismic data services at reduced cost and time.
In their separate remarks, Shell Manager, Geo-Solutions, Sam Ezugworie, and Chief Geophysicist, Reginald Mbah, said CB Geo-Solutions exceeded expectations by professionally delivering, in record time, high quality 3D seismic data provided them as test study, noting that it was that feat that encouraged Shell to award the first-ever seismic data acquisition contract to an indigenous firm.