OB3 Pipeline to Spike Gas Supply by 2billionscf/d in 2017

The pipeline, estimated to cost over $400 million, is a Federal Government’s project being handled by Nigerian oil service companies including Oilserv Limited, the Nation learnt.

The 48-inch pipeline will cover about 120km and supply gas to thermal power plants.

The Managing Director of Oilserv Limited,  Emeka Okwuosa, who expressed hope to complete the project in July 2017, said: “We are looking at the project’s completion in 2017. The scheduled completion date is July 2017. The project has faced quite a few challenges like you will expect of any project. Projects as you know, come with plans, based on scope and as you progress with the project, you may have changes in scope depending on what you intend to achieve.

“We also have challenges that come with community management and security issues. We also have several other challenges but at the end of all, we expect to have reduced and recalibration of the schedule. Currently we are looking at July 2017. The project is really not being affected by the current situation in oil and gas industry because the government has had the intention of doing it to get gas distribution come in top gear.

“Therefore, it means clearly that the project has been programmed overtime and the funding is also being kept by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government. So, clearly the funding is on stream and I believe by next year, we should have that pipeline fully functional to be able to increase the capacity of gas supply for domestic uses.”

He noted that at the peak of supply, they are looking at a maximum of two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (bscf/d), adding that whether the capacity woulb be achieved depended on there being enough gas to feed it.