Nigeria upgrades oil export infrastructure

The much-delayed alternative to the Trans Forcados route has finally started commissioning

Nigerian independent Seplat Energy and NOC NNPC—through its E&P subsidiary NPDC—have started commercial crude injections into the new Amukpe-Escravos pipeline. The 67km route has a capacity of 160,000bl/d—35,000bl/d of which is allocated to the Seplat-NPDC joint venture. And at least one other Nigerian independent, Pan Ocean Oil, is also a partner in the development. The infrastructure is “mostly underground” and “is expected to provide a more reliable and secure export route for liquids from Seplat's major assets OML 4, 38 and 41, connecting them with the Chevron-operated Escravos terminal”, the independent says. The pipeline is intended as an alternative to the often-disrupted Trans Fo