http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/oil/28454-shell-begins-trans-forcados-pipeline-repair-
Business Day
13 October 2011
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) is mobilising for repair of the Trans Forcados Pipeline which was shut down following a sabotage leak on October 6. Movement of equipment and materials by the repair contractor is progressing, and flushing of the 50-km pipeline is expected to commence by the weekend to clear hydrocarbon deposits before cutting and welding for replacement of the damaged section.
“If all goes according to plan, we expect to complete the repair as soon as possible and reopen the line,” said Tony Attah, vice president HSE and Corporate Affairs. “It means the force majeure we declared on Forcados off take programme will be lifted late October/early November as soon as Forcados production has returned to normal levels,” Attah said.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) has declared force majeure on its Forcados export programme for October, November and December 2011 as a result of production shutdown due to a sabotage leak on Trans Forcados Pipeline. The declaration took effect from Monday noon.
The leak was reported October 6, 2011, and a Joint Investigation Team found out that it was caused by explosive damage. SPDC is working to repair the pipeline and resume production as quickly as possible.
It also lifted the force majeure on Bonny Light export programme which was declared on August 23, 2011.
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria had earlier raised the alarm that the country would be plunged into total blackout as the pipeline is the same that supplies gas to shell gas stations at Utorogu and Ughelli East Gas Plants, Oben, Sapele and Ogharefe gas plants of Saplet and Pan Ocean for maintenance purposes. This, in turn, supplies gas to five power stations.
This means that these power stations will lose gas and will thus not be able to generate power. The affected power stations include Geregu, Sapele, Ughelli, Omotosho and Olorunsogo power stations.
The maintenance, according to PHCN, will lead to complete shutdown of Geregu, Sapele, Ughelli, Omotosho and Olorunsogo power stations throughout the duration of the exercise, thus resulting in a cut back in generation of over 1400 Mega Watts. This loss of generation will entail minimal load shedding in many parts of the country.
“Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) regrets to inform its esteemed customers nationwide of the notice received from Nigeria Gas Company Limited (NGC) of the planned shutdown of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Utorogu and Ughelli East Gas Plants, Oben, Sapele and Ogharefe gas plants of Seplat and Pan Ocean
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