In a statement on Saturday, Nigerian oil and gas company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited disclosed plans to shut down its Oben Gas Plant in an upgrade exercise designed to meet up with the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) standard, and elongate the plant life by 20 years.

The statement read: “The operation will be in two phases with each phase running for seven days. During the first period of the upgrade, the Oben Gas Plant will operate at 50 percent of installed capacity, while the second phase will be a total shutdown for 7days”.

The scheduled shutdown of the 90mmscf per dayOben Gas Plant is, according to the Managing Director and CEO of Seplat, Austin Avuru, a demonstration of NPDC/Seplat joint venture’s policy of achieving steady supply of clean and cheaper fuel in West Africa.

“We expect this upgrade to strategically position the NPDC/Seplat JV to maintain a steady  supply of high quality gas for domestic obligations and neighbouring countries through the  WAGP, thus helping to stimulate industrial production/growth and support economic integration in these sub-regional economies”, Austin said

The duration of the shutdown will see a new control room set up, and a pre-fabricated meter run (with DOF on the sales gas line), valves and vortex flow meters amongst other equipments installed, BusinessDay reported.

Seplat’s agreement with the Nigerian Gas Company and relevant stakeholders stipulates the Oben Gas Plant be shut down on Monday, August 13, 2012.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, formed by Shebah E & P and Platform Petroleum, was registered in 2009 as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the acquisition of 45 percent interest in Oil Mining Licenses 4, 38 and 41.

French Independent energy company, Maurel & Prom subsequently acquired a 45 percent of SEPLAT while Shebah E &P & Platform retained 55 percent to maintain SEPLAT’s indigenous status. Maurel & Prom has a track record in E & P Operations in Gabon, Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Colombia.

Image via sweetcrudereports

Elsewhere on Ventures

Triangle arrow