NIGERIAN CONTENT: SAIPEM LOADS OUT EGINA UFR MODULE

A major Nigerian Content feat was recorded on Thursday when Saipem Nigeria achieved the loadout of the Egina project’s Umbilicals, Flowlines and Risers (UFR) fabricated at the company’s facilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Egina oil field is being developed by Total Upstream Nigeria in partnership with CNOOC, Sapetro andPetrobras. It is the third deep offshore development of Total in Nigeria and production is scheduled to begin in 2018.

Speaking at the event,the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Patrick Obah commended Total Upstream for believing in the capability of Nigerian companies to handle major components on the Egina project. He noted that the delivery of the Egina UFR package by Saipem Nigeria was a clear demonstration of how capacity has evolved over the years in Nigeria yards.

Obah attributed the success recorded on the project to the Board’s firm role in the project contracting process that led to the scooping and demonstration of the UFR package for Nigeria.  He further called on multinationals and indigenous service companies to invest in the country and participate in the process of transformation using activities in oil and gas activities.

He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to Nigerian Content implementation, stating “we will continue to use our regulatory oversight to create opportunitiesfor companies that genuinely wish to leverage on the NOGICD Act to invest in the Nigeria economy”.

In his address, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru commended Saipem Nigeria for delivering the scope in record time and loading out of the UFR. He appreciated the regulatory roles played by the NCDMB, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the efficiency of the sub-contractors in delivering the module.

Baru further reiterated the commitment of NNPC in supporting the development of the Nigerian Content Act, describing it as a tool for getting Nigerians involved in the operations of the industry.  According to him, “what we are celebrating today is part of the growing efficacy of the NOGICD Act. NNPC is strongly committed to successful implementation of all the provisions of this Act to improve and accelerate local capacity development in all its projects.”

In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer, Total E&P, Mr. Nicolas Terraz stated that the UFR load-out was a clear indication that Total Nigeria was moving close to its objective of delivering important projects in Nigeria. He added that the project recorded 14million man-hours without any lost time injury (LTI).