FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2010 BY

 

Nigeria’s oil production capacity may soon rise courtesy of a fresh discovery of hydrocarbon in the country by Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, with Conoil Producing Limited.Specifically, the new oil found was made in the central portion of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 136, offshore Western Nigeria.

 

The new oil well, – Agge-3B.T1, an undrilled compartment of the Agge structure, was located in a water depth of 140 metres and reached a total depth of 2,710 metres.According to a statement made available to The Guardian by Total E&P Manager, External Communication, Fred Ohwahwa yesterday, the well discovered several gas bearing reservoirs totaling a gross thickness in excess of 150 metres.

 

A production test performed over the lower intervals yielded a production of 21 million cubic feet of gas per day on a 36/64’’ choke. Studies are ongoing to assess further development options for the Agge-3B.T1 well, together with other discoveries on the block.Total Exploration & Production Nigeria is a 40 per cent partner in the OML 136 licence, in association with Conoil Producing (60 per cent), operator.

 

Ohwahwa explained that the new discovery would further promote Total’s development of local communities through its activities and actively encourages the use of Nigerian resources   wherever possible, over and above local regulations.The company’s Akpo project, with production started in 2009, in which Total displayed its expertise to ensure sustainable development of the country’s energy resources in the deep offshore, has generated more than 11 million man-hours in the country and will generate up to an overall total of 15 million man-hours in Nigeria by the time of its completion.

 

The Usan project will follow suit with approximately 60 per cent of man-hours planned in Nigeria. The basic engineering studies for the Egina field on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 are performed in Nigeria. The Group will continue to develop the expertise of Nigerian companies in deep offshore project-related work. This is particularly the case in the Niger Delta region, from which more than half of Total’s Nigerian employees originate and where the majority of the Group’s operations in the country are located.

 

Total has been operating in exploration and production in Nigeria for close to 50 years. It’s operated production in Nigeria comes from the OML 58, 99, 100 and 102, as part of a joint venture with NNPC. The main fields are Obagi, Obite, Amenam-Kpono, Ofon and Odudu.Total also operates OML 130, which contains the Akpo deep water development that started production in March 2009.

 

Total has other significant equity production in Nigeria from its interests in non-operated ventures, particularly the NNPC/SPDC/TEPNG/NAOC joint venture (10 per cent) and SNEPCO JV, which includes the Bonga field (12.5 per cent).Total, a major player in the gas industry in Nigeria, targeting both the export market and domestic markets, holds a 15 per cent interest in Nigeria LNG, and actively promotes the Brass LNG project (of which Total holds a 17 per cent).

 

 (Source:Guardian)