Two major repairs eff ected on ‘20’ Escravos Lagos Pipeline System A (ELPS –A) and the completion of repairs of the vandalized Chevron off shore gas pipeline ramped up gas production by 689MMscfd. Disclosing this yesterday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the repairs in August 2016 in February 2017 respectively ramped up production from zero to 259MMscfd and 430MMscfd for ELPS and Chevron off shore, feats which boosted supply of gas in the country.
Speaking on the progress recorded in domestic gas supply the last one year, Dr Baru said production had increased from an average of 700MMscf in July 2016 to an average of 1,220MMscfd currently, adding that about 75 percent of the volume was supplied to thermal power plants. The MD explained that completion of repair works on the vandalized 48” Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) export gas pipeline in June 2017, which had reactivated shut down gas plants, including Oredo Gas Plant, Sapele Gas Plant, Ovade Gas Plant, Oben and NGC Gas Compressors; and the commissioning of NPDC’s Utorogu NAG2 and Oredo EPF 2 gas plants, equally boosted availability of and supply of product to electricity distribution companies and for domestic consumption. Dr. Baru informed that since his assumption of offi ce a year ago, resources had been deployed to the Benue Trough, with exploration eff orts commenced there in earnest.
Also he spoke on the ongoing seismic data acquisition in the frontier region using the services of Integrated Data Services limited, IDSL, and her partners stressing that the federal government’s aspiration is to grow the reserves base of the country. “Drilling activities were expected to commence in Benue Trough in Q4 this year. We are working with the security agencies for an early return to the Chad Basin. Drilling activities will be a priority on resumption while continuing with seismic data acquisition with improved parameters,” he said.
