By Francis Sadhere, Warri

Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, an indigenous exploration and production company in Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, is set to raise the bar as one of the leading sector player in the oil and gas industry with its new project, Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline Project (AEPP) that is nearing completion.

According to the Project Lead, Mr. John Okusolubo, a senior pipeline engineer in Pan Ocean, who spoke to journalists, weekend during a media visit to Pan Ocean Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline Project located at Amukpe-Sapele, Delta State, the pipeline project when completed will boost evacuation of crude export.

He said apart from raising high hope for increased national overall crude export, the project will also boost government revenue which will lead to the overall growth of the economy.

Mr Okusolubo stressed that with the completion of the Amukpe-Escravos pipeline project, Pan Ocean will also be empowering other oil and gas operators in the Niger Delta region to increase their crude evacuation capabilities.

“The primary objective is to provide Pan Ocean JV and other Niger Delta Mid-Western Producers, eg Seplat, NPDC, Conoil, Sahara, Next Oil etc, an alternative export pipeline to the existing Trans-Forcados pipeline (TFP) that is prone to continues acts of vandalism,” Mr Okusolubo said.

The Pan Ocean Amukpe-Escravos pipeline Project Lead, said with the completion of the Amukpe-Escravos  pipeline project which is scheduled to be completed by September this year, Pan Ocean has shown its capabilities and determination to continue to grow its stature and profile as a leading sector player in the oil and gas industry.

He also explained that  the Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline Project is a 67 kilometer pipeline project awarded to an indigenous company,  Fenog Nigerian Limited in 2011 by Pan Ocean, operators of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Pan Ocean Joint Venture.

“The contract which involves installation of 20” pipeline across the 67 kilometers route will have capacity to handle 160,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) with remote manifolds to accommodate third parties’ crude oil evacuation to Escravos.

“Upon completion, AEPP will contribute significantly towards increasing Nigeria’s overall crude export with attendant impact on revenue both for the government and other stakeholders. The pipeline project will also offer other operators within the region the opportunity to increase their crude evacuation capabilities,” Mr Okusolubo explained.

He added that the Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline Project involves the installation of 20”x67km piggable export pipeline to transport crude oil from Pan Ocean’s Amukpe metering station to Chevron Nigerian Limited (CNL) Escravos Tank Farm.

Mr Okusolubo further said that the construction of the project entails the use of continuous Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method to install the entire pipeline length for the purpose of security from acts of vandalism which is prevalent in that domain.

He  also stressed that  with the partnership with an indigenous company like Fenog Nigerian Limited on the pipeline project, Pan Ocean has further highlighted  its commitment towards developing indigenous capacity and increased participation for Nigerian companies in the oil and gas sector.

At the Pan Ocean Metering Station, Amukpe, Mr Okusolubo who took journalists round the facility said the existing metering station will be  expanded to accommodate the new Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline Project, adding that when completed, the metering station will be used to measure the volume of oil that will be pumped to Escravos for export.