FIRST E&P is developing an open-access offshore gas gathering and processing hub around its operated OML 83 and 85 assets. The company is hoping the facility could have the capacity to process 1Billion standard cubic feet per day, from a mix of FIRST E&P’s gas as well as other third-party gas within a 60- to 80-kilometre radius.
First E&P thinks this is an opportunity because there is, in Nigeria, an absence of open-access gas gathering, processing and transportation infrastructure in the offshore terrain.This offshore gas hub will process wet gas to pipeline specifications as well as enhance value from our gas resources with extraction of the condensate and NGLs. Robust gas transportation options in addition to pipelines, such as LNG and CNG, will also be incorporated into the development concept to efficiently serve both local and international markets. The offshore gas hub plant FEED has been launched and is expected to be completed in mid-2023 when the formal project FID is scheduled to be taken to assure first gas is on stream in 2026.
There is no certainty, though, that the FID could be taken this year.
Such a project would fill a vast infrastructure gap, which has obstructed monetization of offshore gas resources in the country.
Unlike crude oil, raw gas must be processed and conditioned to pipeline-specification gas flow, which entails separating the gas liquids, condensates and related heavy ends before moving it onshore or commercialising demand points efficiently.
