Total And Ofon Gas Initiative

For decades, emphasis
has been on the need for those operating in the Nigerian oil sector to observe international best practices, particularly as it is being done in the civilised world where oil exploration and exploitation activities take place.
Apart from reducing cost, as being observed in the multibillion Naira annual wastage through flaring of the nation’s precious gas, international best practice would reduce so much hazards committed on the environment, guarantee increased opportunities for the host communities by expanding their fortunes, a curse that has resulted in hostilities, it would also lead to increase productivities for the country and oil companies doing businesses in Nigeria, amongst numerous other advantages.
It is in the light of these that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was being conceived. But unfortunately, since 2009 when the bill was first drafted, controversy has continued to hold-up this laudable initiative, even as some stakeholders have expressed suspicion on some of the oil multinationals, accusing them of frustrating the bill at both the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly.
But one of the oil multinationals whose activities indicate that it may not be amongst the enemies of the PIB is the Total Group. Only recently, Total launched the first solar filling station in Lagos.
Penultimate Monday, the company sponsored a team of Oil and Energy Correspondents in Nigeria to its Ofon project located in oil Mining Lease (OML) 102 offshore Niger Delta in 40 meters water depth.
At Ofon field, operated by Total Nigeria with 40 per cent equity, while Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns 60 per cent, the company proudly showcased before the newsmen its facilities which, without doubt, portray the company as one of a lot whose interest aims at best practices as found in the over 100 countries of the world were it operates.
The Project General Manager, Emmanuel Hyest told newsmen that the Ofon field began production in 1997, but in order to enhance better production from the matured Ofon field it had to launch Ofon Field Development Project phase two.
According to Hyest, one major aim of the Ofon 2 project is to stop flaring of gas in its operation as demanded by the Federal Government.
He said, instead of wasting the gas through flaring, the project would monetize the gas by piping it to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant in Bonny via AMENAM field.
“It would develop additional reserves while producing the remaining phase – 1 reserves, inject water to re-pressurize the various reservouirs such that all produced water will be re-injected”, the project Manager said.
When completed, 106 million standard cubic feet (Mscf) of gas per day will be sent to the domestic gas market, thereby boosting the Federal Government’s aspirations on power as well as add approximately 40,000 barrels of oil per day to Nigeria’s total production.
Hyest assured that this feat would become realisble by the time work is complete in the project by ending of this year.
“Ofon 2 will also form the bub of production for future development in OML102 such as Etisong, Eben, Emen, Uyai, Offon S and Ofon NE, bringing additional oil and gas resources in excess of 250 million barrels of oil equivalent,”, he explained, noting that without Ofon 2 facilities, the resources located within 15km around Ofon would be very difficult to develop.
An excited Hyest narrated to the journalists that Ofon phase 2 project has continued to exlusively take giant strides as the first oil company with the successful achievement of several major mile stones during the last few months.
Among the new facilities that came to the OML102 Ofon project through its phase two include OFP 2 production platform bridge linked to OFPI deck weighing 16,000 metric tons installed by flat-over on 7th January 2014.
It also has living quarters for 124 people as well as offices, a central common-room, control room and a helideck, two well head plate forms, the OFDS wellhead platform with 12 slots, and the OFD5 wellhead platform with 15 slots and installation of 1st jacket for OFD5 well head platform which is currently going on.
Another feature is a 12’ gas-export line to AMENAM (70km) in field lines (40km) and electrical cables linking the wellheads to the central complex. It also has 24 new wells, 16 producer and 18 injectors.
It is expected that drilling of new wells will commence next year, according to Hyest.
He said “Ofon phase 2 project has been delivering and keeps delivering on the group’s ambitions in terms of diversity and Nigerian content, with over 1,000 people and four floateds mobilized to accommodate offshore personnel for hook-up and commissioning activities expected to deliver more than one million man-hours working simultaneously.
On the local content position of the Ofon 2,  the project manager emphasised that large part is being developed locally in-country to meet the company’s local content policy by creating employment opportunities, livelihood, capacity building as well as transfer of engineering and technological skills to Nigerians.
“This contribution of value is evidently seen in five Nigerian yards, one in Nigerdock Lagos, three in Port Harcourt (ponticelli, Aveon, and SCNL yards) and another one in Warri (Globestar).
Ofon 2 project, in terms of its tremendous technical and technological offshore undertaking has substantial Nigerian content designed to maximize revenue for the joint venture and the Federal Government.
It is heartwarming that while most companies operating in the oil and gas sector of the country expect the PIB to redirect their system and strategies, Total is setting the new pace in the area of its gas flare-out and local content policies in the Ofon project.
It is equally taking bold step to increase productivity by monitising the gas which has remained one major concern and challenge considering the huge wastages.

Total’s Ofon project

Chris Oluoh