Nigeria: Kaztac starts work in OML 123

Oil and gas industry engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commission firm Kaztac Engineering Limited has announced that its Ekulo Cheyenne barge has been deployed to commence work for Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria at its OML 123 block in Cross Rivers State.

The firm, which is based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, announced this through its project manager, Rick Reggio, who stated, "The 350 ft by 100 ft by 25 ft depth pipelay/derrick and construction barge Ekulo Cheyenne is expected to execute TB–1921 Call-Off Contract for installation of sub-sea pipelines and topsides for Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited."

This installation-focused contract will enable the various facilities currently being designed and manufactured to be collected, shipped to site, craned into position, and hooked up together with the laying of interconnecting pipelines and installation of associated riser systems.'

The project is described as designed to meet the company's field development goals, including 'flares down,' as it plans a new facility to expand its existing Adanga complex to provide gas compression and additional production separation capacity, with central power generation for the entire complex.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Three crewmen kidnapped off Nigerian coast

Three French crewmen have been kidnapped from a ship in an oil field off the Nigerian cost. The marine company Bourbon said the ship was attacked by pirates in speedboats on Tuesday, 21st September. The other 13 crew members were unharmed.

So far, there have been no ransom demands and no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The news comes shortly after reports of five French citizens abducted from a uranium mine in the Niger region on Thursday, 16th September.

It is not yet clear where the attack took place but Bourbon has said the crew were working in an oilfield owned by Addax Petroleum. The company's offshore wells sit about 60km south of the city of Calabar on the eastern edge of the Niger Delta.

"We are fully mobilised to obtain their liberation as soon as we can in Paris and in Abuja with our embassy and with the Nigerian authorities," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

Unipec ventures in to Nigeria crude oil sales

Sinopec's trading arm Unipec has began selling large consignments of Nigeria crude oil previously marketed by Addax. Sinopec Group, parent of Sinopec Corp, bought Addax in June 2009 for $7.24 billion in order to increase its presence in West Africa.

Industry tracking technology shows shipments of Antan and Okwori crude oil being sold and exported from Nigeria last September. "This is the first time we've seen Unipec controlling these cargoes. It makes them more of a seller than before," said a Nigerian oil trader.

Earlier this month, Sinopec Group said it had struck high flows of oil at an offshore Nigerian block previously owned by Addax. The UDELE-3 well of Block 137, in the Niger Delta, was the first exploration well Sinopec drilled in Nigeria this year after its acquisition almost a year ago.

Source: Reuters

To find out more about Sinopec, please visit Sinopec's web site which you can find here.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

Sinopec strikes oil in Nigeria

China's state-owned oil producer, Sinopec, has struck oil at an offshore block 137, UDELE-3 well, in Niger Delta. The Nigerian block, previously owned by Swiss firm Addax, is the first exploration well Sinopec drilled in Nigeria after acquiring it from Addax, almost a year ago, to increase its presence in Africa.

Upon initial inspection the UDELE-3 well showed a heavy oil flow of 3,365 barrels and 28,300 m³ of gas per day. "It showed the huge oil exploration potential of the block in the future, and also greatly increased its value," the company said in a statement.

During the exploration, drillers struck an oil layer of 45.9 metres and test yields showed an oil flow of 3,365 barrels of oil and 28,300 m³ of gas within a day. It is expected that UDELE-3 well's oil quantities will increase in the future.

Sinopec Group, parent of Sinopec Corp, bought Addax, in June 2009, for $7.24 billion. It is China's biggest overseas acquisition to date.

Source: Reuters

To find out more about Sinopec, please visit Sinopec's web site which you can find here.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.