OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Statistics from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s, newly-released monthly report for May has shown that 14 crude oil export terminals were shut and could not operate in April and May this year.
According to the report, the shut down, resulting from power outages and pipeline leakages, led to a combined production deferment of 4.36 million barrels of oil.
Shell had declared force majeure at the Forcados terminal on 6th April due to the shut down of Trans Forcados Pipeline, TFP, on 4th April following 2 leak points at Eweresigbene and Odidi, which required pipeline sectional replacement of the line. Shut-in period was 9 days with a total loss of 1,620,000 barrels.
The Bonny Terminal production shut-in of about 30, 000 for 2 days due to fire incident on some sections of the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, on the 9th of April 2020. Also, Aiteo instructed cessation of injections into the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, NCTL on 24th April following reported leaks at Moneygram/Adamakiri axis. This had a production impact of 120,000bd over a period of 4 days.
Production shut-in was recorded at the Agbami Terminal due to emergency shut down on the 9th and on 15th of April. In addition, oil production dropped from 20-24th of April due to pressure build-up, PBU, and safety instrumentation system, SIS, test on Agbami-3, 29, and 37. Total amount of crude lost was 105,076 barrels, according to the report.
Usari and Edop production platforms were shutdown as a result of flare valve failure. This led to a shut down of the Qua Iboe terminal. The shut down of the 3 Ubit wells was carried out on request from EAP due to maintenance. These happened between 01-05 April and the 17- 30 April with cumulative loss of 427,041 barrels of oil.
From the Erha Terminal, production shut-in due to Producing Well, PW-10 shutdown and High Gas Oil Ratio, HGOR, wells were put on minimum choke to optimise flare. Shut-in was from 04-26 April with cumulative loss of production of 582,176 barrels of oil.
Ogbainbiri/Tebiadaba 18-inch line was reportedly vandalised on April 8, leading to the shut down of Brass Terminal. Likewise, the platform stopped delivery into the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, facility from 25-26 May. Aggregate loss of production within the period was 37,000 barrels.
The Egina Terminal experienced a production shut-in due to power outage from 01-06 April and then for another 3 days from 13-15 April 2020; coupled with shutdown due to faulty transmitter on cooling water pump. Total shut-in was 441,443 barrels.
An emergency plant shut down of the Akpo Terminal from 06-10 April due to what NNPC described as “spurious” gas leak detection was reported. There was also production shut-in from 13-17 April due to unavailability of gas injection compressor. Total loss of 160,170 barrels within the period was reported.
Production shut-in was recorded at Bonga Terminal as a result of fire incident on pump, leading to Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR, 2 shut down with attendant loss of 80,000 barrels over a period of 2 days.
From 11- 29 April with an associated loss of 208,797 barrels, 8 Yoho wells experienced shut-in for flare management, leading to shut down of the Yoho Terminal within the period.
The Ogo Ocha Terminal suffered production shut-in for 4 days due to shut down of Odidi, Egwa, and Jones Creek flow-stations to manage tank top at Keremor. Production cut was 106,612 barrels.
From other terminals, controlled shut down at Ima for annual maintenance carried over from 14th September 2019 to April recorded production cut of 30,000 barrels. Likewise, shut-in of wells at Ajapa terminal for emergency maintenance saw 6,307 barrels loss over 4 days. At Usan, wells were choked back for 1 day to manage flare due to TC-B (Turbo Compressor B) on glycol cooler transmitter invalidity and LP Compressor trip. Shut-in was 10,400 barrels.
