Ahmadu-Kida Musa
Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Lagos Free Trade Zone will play host to the $3.5 billion world largest Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel next year, as part of the integration process that would see the Nigerian components incorporated into the monster ship.
The FPSO is a major platform for oil production at the $16 billion Egina oil field operated by Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG). The FPSO will measure approximately 330 metres in length, 61 metres in width and 33.5 metres in depth, and is expected to have an oil storage capacity of approximately 2.3 million barrels. The facility will have topsides modules with a gross dry weight of 34,000tones.
The Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater District, TEPNG, Ahmadu-Kida Musa, who revealed the coming of the FPSO to The Guardian, stated the giant vessel would arrive Apapa port, Lagos between March and April next year for full integration.
As stated by him, the FPSO is currently under construction in Korea with the second tandem loading installed in February this year.
“Sometimes in March or April next year, the Apapa Wharf will welcome the 330 metres length FPSO from Korea for full integration at the Ladol yard in Lagos Free Trade Zone. This is the first FPSO integration to be done in Nigeria and Total is very proud to undertake the project in Nigeria in line with the local content agenda of the Federal Government,” he stated.
Located 150 kilometres offshore of Nigeria and about 20 kilometres away from Akpo field, the Egina field lies within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 in water depths ranging from 1150-1750 metres.
As stated by him, the field is currently under development and is estimated to reach a peak production rate of 200,000 barrels per day by mid 2018. Oil will be offloaded via a SPM buoy, with tandem as a back-up. Excess gas after fuel gas will be exported to shore via the AKPO-AMENAM gas export pipeline.
Musa stated about 70 per cent of the project would be done locally, assuring of the company’s determination to sustain the pace and deliver Egina project safely and on schedule.
It was learnt that five out of the planned 44 subsea wells have already been drilled, at water depths of between 1,400 metres and 1,700 metres, and 13 more will be completed when the field comes on stream. Musa stated two drilling rigs are currently working on the field for drilling activities.
The field was discovered in December 2003 with the Egina-1 well. Following the discovery, the appraisal well Egina-2 was drilled in October 2004, which preceded further seismic processing and drilling of three additional wells within September 2006 and January 2007. The five wells drilled in the Egina field encountered 60 to 80 metres of oil in Miocene sands. The light oil is rated at 28° API and the estimated reserves is circa 550 million barrels.
Guardian