Oando Energy Resources Inc., a Nigerian company with extensive interests in the African oil industry, says it has completed the 45,000bbls/d, 51km Umugini pipeline. The pipeline will provide an alternative evacuation route for crude oil produced from the Ebendo Field through the Trans Forcados export pipeline.

“The completion of the Umugini pipeline now allows us maximize the value of our investments to date on the asset and provides the latitude for further profitable development of prospects and resources identified in Ebendo,” said Pade Durotoye, CEO Oando Energy Resources.

Ebendo is located onshore, in the central Niger Delta, approximately 100 km north-west of Port Harcourt and covering an area of 65 km2 (16,062 acres). The License includes two fields, Ebendo (producing) and the Obodeti field (undeveloped). Oando Energy Resources holds a 42.75 percent working interest on the field.

Following the successful drilling of Ebendo wells 5, 6, and 7 over the past 12 months, oil production capacity within OML 56 has grown to 7,140 barrel of oil equivalent per day (boepd) gross for OER and Energia Limited the operator of the asset. However, export had been constrained at 3,093boepd via the Agip operated Kwale-Brass NAOC/JV infrastructure in which OER currently has a 20 percent interest through the recent $1.5 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigerian Oil & Gas Business.

With the completion and commencement of operations on the Umugini pipeline, the Ebendo field can now produce at its full capacity.