Total seeks end to gas flaring as Ofon Phase 2 comes on stream

The Ofon Phase 2 Process Platform (OFP2) which is expected help stop gas flaring and monetise the gas to NLNG plant at Bonny via Amenam (another TEPNG facility), has been commissioned in South Korea.

The platform is expected to arrive in the country any time soon as it is on its way to the Ofon field located in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 102, 50 kilometres off the coast of Nigeria in 40m water depth.

The other objective of the OFP 2 project is to develop additional reserves while producing the remaining reserves in Ofon Phase 1 and perform water injection to re-pressurise the different reservoirs.

The Ofon Phase 2 Process Platform (OFP2) project was initially sanctioned in December 2006 and two contracts awarded in 2007: the EPCC1 to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of Korea for the construction of the OFP2 deck, and T&17 to Technip for the deck’s transportation and installation.

In September 2011, the remaining five EPC contracts were awarded to Niger dock (EPC2: Wellhead Platforms); Subsea-7/Globestar (EPC3: Sealines); Eiffage (EPC4: Living Quarters); Ponticelli (EPC5: Tie-ins to existing platform) and Saipem (EPC8: OFP2 Jacket).

Under the OFP 2 project, the following new facilities are to be added to the existing Ofon Phase 1 facilities:

• OFP2 production platform bridge linked to OFP1

• The OFQ, or Living Quarters, linked to OFP2 via a bridge, with accommodation for 124 people.

• 2 Wellhead platforms: the OFD3 wellhead platform, with 12 slots, and the OFD5 wellhead platform with 15 slots

• A 12” gas-export line to AMP2 (70km) and in-field lines and cables (40km) linking the wellheads to the central complex

• 24 new wells: 16 producer and 8 injectors

The field is owned by Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) 40 percent in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 60 percent.

The sail-away ceremony for the OFP2 was performed recently at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea by Salihu Ahmed, an ambassador and the deputy head of mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Korea; Nicolas Brunet, executive director, TEPNG Port Harcourt District; Patrick Ngene, TEPNG OFON 2 Project general manager; Emmanuel Hyest, TEPNG OFON 2 company representative in Ulsan; Jean-Marc Pecquois and J.D Kim, the senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, HHI. The impressive ceremony was also witnessed by other officials from Total, NAPIMS, DPR and HHI. Commenting on the development, Ambassador said “The successful completion of this platform is a further demonstration of the excellent relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea.

Nicolas Brunet who led the Total delegation congratulated the project team for “achieving five million man-hours without loss time injury (LTI)” and expressed Total’s appreciation to NNPC/NAPIMS and the DPR for the supportive roles they played in the actualisation of the project.

By: OLUSOLA BELLO