UNDEDSS Flays FG's Relocation of Petroleum University

UNDEDSS Flays FG's Relocation of Petroleum University

Ahead of the alleged proposed relocation of the nation's University of Petroleum from the City of Warri, Delta State to Northern Nigeria by the present administration of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Strategy and Security (UNDEDSS) has condemned in its entirety the seeming plot to take over the oil industry from the Minority South-South to the North.

The Secretary General of the group, Mr. Tony Uranta said it was wrong for Federal Government to plot this kind of coup against Niger Delta, even at a time all the relevant stakeholders are putting heads together to achieve success with the peace process already put in place. UNDEDSS came out with this in Port Harcourt recently after its usual monthly luncheon, stressing that the group was in full support of the position of the South-South Governors, who in Asaba, the Delta State Capital condemned the relocation of the school to the home state of Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, the Minister of Petroleum, and the unfolding attempt to infiltrate the oil industry with Northerners.

The group which is headed by Professor Pat Utomi said it is also backed the six Governors of the South-South in thier innitial threat to pull out of the amnesty deal package by the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua administration. Consequently UNDEDSS demanded the release of the white paper on the report of the Niger Delta Technical Committee (NDTC), saying if half of the recommendations of the Ledum Mitee-led committee are implemented there will be a down in the current face-off by militants in the area. Uranta called on Aso Rock to remain focused and committed to the cause of the Niger Delta to avoid bungling the long awaited peace process in the oil rich region.

Total's Deepwater Production to Hit 6000,000 Barrels by 2015

The Operator of the NNPC/Total/Joint Venture Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPN) is set to raise its production levels from her deepwater business to 600,000 barrels of oil per day by 2015 when Egina comes on stream. According to the online news of the French Oil giant, the Egina project completion date has been deferred till 2015.

From available information, the Egina production project which is located on OML 130, in a water depth of 1,550 metres of the coast of Nigeria's Niger Delta holds well over 500million barrels of oil in its reserves. As from 2015, Total is expected to produce 175,000 barrels per day of oil and 320 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. Our Correspondent reports that the Christmas trees are made up of 20 for production and 19 for water injection. Although the Egina project is being deferred, the pre-qualification documents for the floating production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel for the project are expected to be issued next month.

According to Upstream reports, "one rig will need to start operations by the first quarter of 2012 with the second unit due on site in the following quarter." Fresh facts emerging from Total House, indicates that the French oil firm decided to defer the completion date of the Egina project to 2015 due to the biting effect of the current global economic crunch. Total Upstream Nigeria Limited had initially planned to complete the Egina deepwater project in 2013, but due to the current realities and the dwindling fortunes of the oil company, 2015 appears to be a feasible date of completion of the project. Niger Delta STANDARD check reveals that the French oil company has already begun precontractual works for the project.

The management of Total has started pre-qualifying companies for the sub sea production system, while the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract is to cover at least 39 well production system. Total has shown a progressive trend in its production effort in the deepwater business. With the completion of AKPO, the ongoing USAN and Ofon I and II and other ambitious projects, it hoped that the French oil company will continue to contribute meaningfully to the nation's economic development in spite of the daunting challenge in its operational area in the Niger Delta region.