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Nigerian pipeline completed through swamp, rock and forest


Oando Gas and Power's subsidiary East Horizon Gas Company (EHGC) recently completed a 128 km pipeline to supply natural gas to industrial areas operating heavy-duty power engines and equipment in southeast Nigeria, overcoming various terrain challenges along the way.
he project involves construction of an 18 inch diameter pipeline, which will transport 172 MMcf/d of natural gas at a pressure of 70 bar from the existing Obigbo ALSCON Pipeline at Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom state, to Mfamosing, near Calabar in Cross River state.

A local influence
EHGC ensured that local companies were involved in the project, creating jobs in the local community. The pipeline was designed and engineered by Zishan Engineering Nigeria Ltd with indigenous firm Oilserv Nigeria Ltd appointed as main construction contractor. Major aspects of the project were subcontracted to local operators, such as horizontal directional drilling awarded to Enikkom and swamp pipeline construction awarded to MJD Oil Services.

EHGC also engaged the services of Solewant/Kema Coating Nigeria Ltd a NACE-certified indigenous firm to execute the application of corrosion coating of the bends and their girth welds. Host communities were educated on the environmental, health and safety impact assessment of the project through several enlightenment sessions that EHGC held.

Safety first
Oando Gas and Power which is ISO 9001:2000 certified ensured that the design and construction of the pipeline project was compliant with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 31.8 standard. Oando Gas and Power is committed to world-class operations with strict adherence to safety, quality, health and environment standards, said Oando Head of Upstream, Gas and Power Projects John Alamu.

The gas pipeline under construction.

Pipelines International digest | DECEMBER 2011

key projects

Oando Gas and Powers city gate facility for its recently completed gas pipeline. To mitigate the social and environmental impact of conventional, open-cut river crossing construction, all seven river crossings were constructed using horizontal directional drilling. Procedures and job hazard analyses were developed for all activities with barriers, controls and recovery measures clearly identified. The end facilities were also fitted with pressure relief valves set at 10 per cent below the pipelines maximum allowable operating pressure. The soil cover after pipe burial was also increased from 1.2 m to 2 m from the top of the pipe, said Mr Alamu. In the forest and built-up areas, the pipeline network was categorised at Class 2 HD, which necessitated the installation of line break valves at intervals as prescribed by applicable codes. The pipeline was located at the centre of a 15 m wide RoW. Thrust-bore technology was also used to pull welded spools across major roads. This innovation allowed for the preservation of the roads integrity and structure. Mr Alamu said that community shrines and sacred lands were avoided; however, some cultural heritage sites were unavoidably located in the pipeline RoW. Relevant parties were adequately compensated for these sites prior to their relocation. Landowners were also compensated as required by the State Government for all farmlands and trees that were affected. In September 2011 just under three years after Oilserv Nigeria first mobilised to site in November 2008 the pipeline reached technical completion. Pre-commissioning was completed in October 2011, gas was introduced into the pipeline by the end of October, and the system was finally stabilised on the 3 November 2011.

A challenging pipeline route


The pipeline route traversed various challenging terrains through swamp, forest and built-up areas, as well as through undulating and extremely rocky topography. The swampy nature of the right-ofway (RoW), and the seasonal and reoccurring flooding of the land area presented some civil engineering and logistic challenges, said Mr Alamu. Mr Alamu described some of the initiatives which were deployed to overcome these challenges. In the extended swamp segment, the swamp constructions were executed using anchor blocks in order to provide negative buoyancy on the welded pipeline and to avoid floating.

Pipelines International digest | DECEMBER 2011

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