*Total, Mobil, Seplat, others burn 17BCF of gas
Lagos — Oil and gas firms operating in the country flared 17.095 billion standard cubic feet (BCF) of gas in April 2021, 5.17 per cent higher than the 16.255 BCF of gas flared in March 2021, according to data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to the operational report released by the NNPC to stakeholders, the volume of gas flared in April, represented 10.29 per cent of Nigeria’s total gas production, compared to 9.36 per cent in the previous month.
In monetary terms, using average natural gas price of $3.045 per 1,000 standard cubic feet of the commodity, as published by the NNPC, the value of the 17.095 BCF of gas flared in April, translates to a loss of $52.05 million. Again, using the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) average exchange rate of N379 to the dollar, this translates to an equivalent of N19.73 billion.
The NNPC report further disclosed that 166.176 BCF of gas was produced in the month under review, dropping by 4.29 per cent, compared with 173.64 BCF of gas recorded in March 2021.
Giving a breakdown of total gas produced and its utilization in April, the report stated that of the 166.176 BCF of gas produced, 106.76 BCF was associated gas, while 59.416 BCF was non-associated gas, of which 149.081 BCF was utilized and 17.095 BCF was flared.
In its analysis of total volume of gas utilized, the report added that 8.344 BCF was utilised as fuel gas; 65.11 BCF and 4.354 BCF of gas were utilized by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and Escravos Gas to Liquids (EGTL) plants respectively; while 2.724 BCF was converted to Natural Gas Liquids (NGL)/Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Furthermore, the report added that total domestic gas sales through the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and others, stood at 18.955 BCF in April, while 49.594 BCF of gas was reinjected and used as gas lift make up.
In addition, in terms of volume of gas flared in the month under review, the report disclosed that Total Exploration Nigeria (TEPNG) was the biggest offender, flaring 3.897 BCF of gas into the atmosphere; followed by Mobil, with 2.045 BCF of gas flared; and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) flaring 1.881 BCF of gas from its Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
These represented 17.97 per cent, 8.11 per cent and 88.67 per cent of TEPNG, Mobil and SNEPCO’s total gas production, respectively, the report explained.
However, in percentage terms, the report disclosed that Seplat was the worst offender, as it flared 100 per cent of its total gas output, translating to 235 million standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas; followed by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company/Seplat Development Company (NPDC/SPDC) joint venture, which flared 96 per cent of their total gas production translating to 136 million SCF.
Furthermore, the report noted that Belema Oil flared 323 million SCF of gas, representing 95.73 per cent of its total gas production; while First Exploration and Production (E&P) flared 524 million SCF of gas, representing 94 per cent of its total gas output.
