Nigeria Deploys First Offshore Pipes

Nigeria Deploys First Offshore Pipes

History has been made in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as key stakeholder gathered to witness the laying of the first ever set of made in Nigerian Oil and Gas grade steel pipes in Exxon Mobil's Edop-Idoho Offshore field after over 50 years of industry operations in the country.

The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) While celebrating the achievement stated that the Helical Submerged Arc Welded pipes were manufactured by SSC Mill Abuja and coasted by Adamac Pipes Coasting and Services Limited.

A landmark

The events, which was a landmark in the implementation of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, according to the NCDMB, was celebrated at the quayside of Onne Free Trade Zone and atop Crawlder barge at Edop-Idoho field.

Public Relations Officer of NCDMB, Mr Obinna Ezeobi, said that the pipes were loaded at Onne FTZ on a vessel transporting them to the field and at Crawlder barge by officials of Saipem Nigeria, the contractor to Exxon Mobil Nigeria who, he said, exhibited the marine operations for welding and laying the pipes on the sea bed.

In his speech at the quayside of Onne FTZ, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa explained that the deployment of the pipes was of national economic significance and a confirmation that inputs sourced from Nigeria can be successfully utilised in hi-tech operations of the oil and gas industry.

He said that it was also proof that the 24 inches by 30 kilometres pipes which Exxon Mobil brought from SCC were not dumped in the ocean as insinuated by some critics.

Shell, Agip and Chevron had in the past month advanced their order placements of about 100 kilometers of line pipes to SCC, which, according to Nwapa, will sustain the employment of Nigerians in the mill and create more opportunities for training.

NP/Margaret/ Qasim