Nigeria is on the verge of a significant increase in crude oil production following confirmation that the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel is ready for its final journey to Nigerian waters. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has announced that the vessel’s deployment to the Okwok Field represents a crucial step toward achieving the country’s ambitious Project One Million Barrels initiative.
NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe personally inspected the FPSO at Dubai Drydocks World in the United Arab Emirates, examining critical components including oil and produced water treatment units, gas injection modules, power systems, seawater treatment facilities, and accommodation quarters. The vessel, converted from the Nordic Mistral crude tanker, boasts an impressive storage capacity of one million barrels and can process 40,000 barrels of oil per day while accommodating up to 100 personnel.
“This FPSO is arriving at a time when the country urgently needs to ramp up production,” Komolafe stated after the inspection. “From what I have observed, the project is on course, and as the regulator we will continue to support Oriental Energy to enhance national production.”
The Oriental Energy Resources Limited project involves converting the double-hulled crude tanker into a fully integrated FPSO with a 15-year operational lifespan. The facility features processing capacity of 40,000 barrels of oil per day, 70,000 barrels of liquid per day, and includes systems for produced water treatment, water injection, gas processing, gas lift, and gas injection operations.
Oriental Energy’s Executive Vice Chairman, Engr. Goni Sheikh, praised NUPRC for its regulatory guidance throughout the project, noting that the commission’s team worked consistently, including weekends, to meet timelines. Komolafe encouraged the company to participate in upcoming licensing rounds, expressing confidence in its demonstrated capacity to contribute to national development.
Source: hallmarknews.com, leadership.ng