NDPR Encounters a Huge Gas Tank in Ogbele

By McJohn Adjoto, West African correspondent

Nigerian independent, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR)  encountered 387 feet Net Gas Sand (NGS) in seven reservoirs in Ogbele- 8, onshore eastern Niger Delta. The well proved new hydrocarbon occurrences in two reservoirs (D7 and E 8) in a proven fault block as well as found substantial gas column in a hitherto untested fault block. “Ogbele marginal field continues to emerge bigger than initially defined”, says Samson Ojehonmo, an energy analyst who closely follows Nigerian marginal field activity. Although the field, which commenced production of crude oil in 2005, also provides 26MMscf/d of gas to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG system in Bonny, Ogbele has not been considered primarily a gas field. But this new find means “we have a substantial gas business to plan for”, according to Layi Fatona, Managing Director of NDPR. “It makes sense to immediately plan for additional gas production”, he adds.

Gas from Ogbele is currently being produced from the G3 reservoir in Ogbele 1. This is expected to be augmented in the 4^th quarter of 2014 with gas from the E6 and E 7 reservoirs in Ogbele 6, which was completed in 2Q 2014. With the results of Ogbele 8, the reservoirs: E8, G1 and G3 will be part of the pool from which to draw from.

Drilling and completion of Ogbele 8 is part of the company’s $90 Million, two year campaign involving 6-8 wells. The Acme 5 rig has now moved to another slot where it will drill Ogbele 9, 10 and 11.

Does it mean, then, that the company will increase its output to the NLNG system? The economics, Fatona contends, “will be driven from the perspective of a wider gas purchaser base”. He explains: “We are becoming a modest gas player”.