The Nigeria state owned firm Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (“NPDC”) and FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (“FIRST E&P”) Joint Venture has announced the commencement of joint venture oil production from the Anyala West field in Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 83 & 85.

With the acquisition transaction for the 40% interests in both OMLs was completed in February, 2015. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holds 60% participating interest in both OML 83 and OML 85. OML 83 covers an aerial extent of 125 sq. km, with Anyala field. OMLs 83 & 85 are in the shallow waters offshore Bayelsa State where FIRST E&P is the Operator of the two blocks, on behalf of the NNPC/FIRST E&P Joint Venture.

According to the firms in a statement:

“The Anyala – Madu field development project objective is to develop 142 million barrels of oil and 98 billion standard cubic feet of gas from the fields in Phase 1.

“It utilises the Abigail-Joseph FPSO, a 274 meters long converted Suezmax trading tanker with a storage capacity of 700,000 barrel, oil processing capacity of 60,000 barrels of oil per day, produced water treatment of 20,000 barrels per day and a gas handling capacity of 39 million standard cubic feet per day.

“A total of seven development wells have been planned in Phase 1 and approved by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in the Anyala West field (OML 83) which will be developed along with the nearby Madu field in (OML 85) to be jointly produced in the Abigail-Joseph FPSO”.

They noted that each field is being developed with an unmanned conductor supported platform (CSP), a novel drilling and development technology deployed in the Niger Delta.

“The FPSO underwent upgrade, refurbishment and life extension works in Keppel Shipyard, Singapore, to meet specified standards and specifications and the excellent partnership between NNPC, FIRST E&P, Yinson and Keppel Shipyard, helped to ensure these critical pre-deployment activities for the FPSO were completed in record time.

“A team of young Nigerian professionals including 7 NNPC staff were part of the successful extension works in the Keppel Shipyard and they will form an integral part of the FPSO operations team in the production phase.

“The project at its peak production will produce about 60,000 barrels of oil per day, unlock over 300 million barrels of crude oil recoverable reserves and create value of over $8bn for the FGN over the total lifespan of all phases of the project.

“The project was carried out with over 2.5 million man-hours with zero Lost Time Injury.

 The Group Managing Director Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, in his remarks was enthused by unalloyed commitment shown by First E & P towards achieving this project milestone in Nigeria energy sector irrespective of the prevailing global pandemic that is dwindling the global financial muscles.

“This is a project that will go a long way in helping us to achieve our strategic objective of 3 million barrels of oil per day by 2023. This is the first project that NNPC, as a JV partner, will carry its partner to provide funding on behalf of the Joint Venture. It is a signal of hope for our country that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. The accomplishment of this great feat in the midst of a pandemic is a clear demonstration of our resolve to achieve performance excellence in spite of all odds,” NNPC, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari stated.

In the vein, the Managing Director of FIRST E&P, Mr Ademola Adeyemi-Bero expressed his company’s profound appreciation and gratitude to staff and managrment of NNPC for this opportunity given to his company to prove its expertise.

 “We appreciate all the support that was given to us by the NNPC, the Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board as well as the hard work and collaboration by FIRST E&P staff, our contractors as well as Nigerian banks in the achievement of this major milestone,” Managing Director of FIRST E&P, Mr Ademola Adeyemi-Bero posited.