The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has hinted at an expected increase in oil production, as the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel shows readiness for its final voyage to Nigeria.
The chief executive of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, stated this during a visit to Dubai Drydocks World (DDWD) in the United Arab Emirates as part of regulatory oversight of the EMEM FPSO vessel’s sail-away readiness.
According to him, the planned departure to Nigeria was good news, as it aligns with the Project One Million Barrels (POMB) initiative, which seeks to increase the country’s oil production by one million barrels.
The EMEM FPSO is being converted at DDWD for Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) and will be deployed to the Okwok Field (PML 15), operated by Oriental Okwok Limited, offshore Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head, Media and Strategic Communication, Komolafe inspected critical areas, including the Oil and Produced Water Treatment Unit, Gas Injection Modules, Seawater Treatment Facilities, Gas Turbine Generators, Electrical House, LACT Unit, Laboratory, Control Room, and Accommodation Quarters.
The inspection, he said, was imperative to enable the Commission to assess the project’s compliance, quality, and readiness for sail away.
He explained that the Okwok field development project represents a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, demonstrating growing indigenous technical capability.
The project involves converting Nordic Mistral, a double-hulled crude tanker with a storage capacity of 1 million barrels, into a fully integrated FPSO with a 15-year operational lifespan.
Komolafe said, “This FPSO is coming to Nigeria at a time we are seeking to increase production. It will help in achieving our project One Million Barrels. From what I have seen, I am very impressed, and as the regulator, we will continue to give support to Oriental Energy.”
Komolafe urged Oriental Energy to participate in the next licensing round, as the company had demonstrated its capacity to take on more projects in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“We advise that you participate in the next licensing round at least to optimise your capacity. We are convinced that Oriental Energy has the capacity to contribute to our national development,” he added.
Also speaking, Goni Sheikh, Executive Vice Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Limited, said, “We have engaged with your team and they have been working around the clock, including Saturdays and Sundays, to beat the timelines and attain this. We must also note that since the start of this project, we have received 100% support from the NUPRC. We thank the regulator for the support, oversight, and guidance it provides us. You are truly a business facilitator,” he stated.
The EMEM FPSO currently have a processing capacity of 40,000 BOPD, 70,000 BLPD, and includes systems for produced water treatment (60,000 BWPD), water injection (60,000 BWPD), gas processing (15 MMSCFD), gas lift (7.5 MMSCFD), and gas injection (3.5 MMSCFD). The vessel accommodates up to 100 personnel and employs a 12-point spread mooring system.
