Oriental Energy Resources (OERL) and its partners have marked the sailaway of the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel from Dry Docks World Dubai Shipyard, representing a historic milestone as the first fully funded and converted FPSO by a Nigerian indigenous company.
The event yesterday drew distinguished attendees including Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Governor of Borno State Babanga Zulum, Governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Adamawa State Ahmadu Umaru Fintiru, and OERL Founder and Chairman Dr. Muhammadu Indimi, alongside key representatives from Drydocks World Dubai and strategic project partners.
The FPSO EMEM has the capacity to process 40,000 barrels of oil per day and will be the crude oil production, storage and export facility for the Okwok field development offshore Nigeria. It will complement OERL’s existing production facilities at the Ebok field.
Drydocks World in the UAE confirmed it has completed extensive conversion work on the vessel, which was originally the Nordic Mistral, a double-hulled crude tanker with a storage capacity of one million barrels. The project included extensive structural upgrades, marine system overhauls, and the integration of 19 topside production and utility modules, all executed at Drydocks World’s facilities in Dubai.
The FPSO is due to sail from Dubai to the field in the fourth quarter of 2025 where it will integrate with the already installed Well Head Platform and five production wells. First oil from the field is anticipated in the first quarter of 2026 and will mark OERL’s first fully independently developed and delivered project following its decision to take on direct operating responsibility at its assets.
Speaking at the sailaway ceremony, Minister Lokpobiri said, “This event is not just the launch of a vessel; it is a statement of confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and a demonstration of the kind of bold, forward-looking investments we need to achieve our national goals. Investments like this not only expand production capacity but also demonstrate leadership in navigating a rapidly changing global energy landscape.”
OERL Chairman Dr. Mohammed Indimi said, “In 2022, we made the ambitious decision to develop the Okwok field entirely independently. The sailaway of the EMEM Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Facility is a critical milestone in the field development process.”
The FPSO has been rebuilt with a projected operational lifespan of 15 years and boasts systems for produced water treatment, water injection, gas processing, gas lift, and gas injection. The vessel can accommodate up to 100 personnel and is fitted with a 12-point spread mooring system. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, noted that the FPSO aligns with the Nigerian Government’s initiative that seeks to increase Nigeria’s oil production by one million barrels.
Sources: orientalnewsng.com, bairdmaritime.com