ExxonMobil cranks up Nigerian NGL project

July 29, 2008
ExxonMobil Corp. unit Mobil Producing Nigeria has begun operating its $1.3 billion East Area Natural Gas Liquids II project on Bonny Island, about 17 miles off Nigeria.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 29 -- ExxonMobil Corp. unit Mobil Producing Nigeria has begun operating its $1.3 billion East Area Natural Gas Liquids II project on Bonny Island, about 17 miles off Nigeria. The project is to recover 275 million bbl of NGL from associated natural gas produced in East Area reservoirs on Blocks OML 67, 68, and 70.

In addition, the East Area NGL II project will produce at its peak about 50,000 b/d of NGL and ultimately recover 275 million bbl of NGL from about 950 MMscfd.

Major components of the project, according to a company announcement, include an offshore NGL extraction complex, more than 125 miles of new natural gas and NGL pipelines, and expansion of the existing onshore Bonny River fractionation terminal.

Reduce flaring
The NGL project is part of an integrated approach to reduce flaring in conjunction with the existing East Area Additional Oil Recovery project. "The projects will reduce flaring and improve oil recovery through reservoir pressure maintenance," the company said.

ExxonMobil said the NGL project follows successful start-up of the East Area Additional Oil Recovery project in June 2006. Together, the two developments "provide for recovery and commercialization of associated gas streams in the field and gas injection into existing reservoirs for recovery and production of additional oil volumes," it said.

Mobil Producing Nigeria (51%) operates the project with coventure partner Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (49%).

Start-up of the NGL II project brings the total of ExxonMobil worldwide start-ups in 2008 to five, including Kizomba C Mondo (Angola; OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2007), Volve (Norway; OGJ, Feb. 25, 2008, p. 9), Starling (UK; OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2007), and ACG Phase 3 (Azerbaijan).