Shell hunts high-spec rig for challenging Nigeria work

Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell is on the look-out to charter a jack-up for challenging well operations in Nigeria.

Also in the West African oil powerhouse, French giant Total needs downhole equipment for a 22-well campaign in deep-water OML 130, while a Sahara Group-owned company is on the hunt for flowlines for its onshore Oki-Oziengbe South project.

Shell's drilling plans

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) needs the jack-up to begin operations in the third quarter of 2021 under a firm contract lasting two years, with a pair of one-year options to extend this contract to four years in total.

Initial responses must be submitted to SPDC in Lagos by 13 October.

The operator’s pre-requisite is to take on a “special capability” jack-up for development drilling and workover duties, with a focus on the rig’s ability to carry out high-pressure, high-temperature drilling, completion and well testing work.

According to SPDC’s documentation, the rig cannot be older than 10 years and must be able to drill to depths of 25,000 feet, with a draw works of at least 3000 horsepower.

The jacking system must leave at least 250 feet of leg below the hull and allow the rig to drill in waters between 30 and 130 feet.

Shell’s chosen rig will also need a cantilever system and be able to accommodate 120 crew plus a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter.

In addition, its top drive system, one of its blowout preventers and choke manifolds must handle pressures up to 15,000 pounds per square inch.

Supply base deal in offing

SPDC has also launched a bid process covering management of its Kidney Island and IA-Ogunu supply bases in Port Harcourt and Warri, respectively.

The proposed contracts are tentatively set to start in the first quarter of 2021 and run for three years, followed by a one-year extension option.

Interested players must submit their responses by 9 October.

Paris-based supermajor Total, meanwhile, has hit the market with a bid process calling for the provision of borehole equipment for at least 22 subsea wells off Nigeria.

The work will be carried out in deep-water OML 130, which hosts the producing Egina and Akpo fields — where development and near-field exploration wells are planned — and the stalled Preowei development.

One contract relates to the supply of conductor pipes and large casings, while the second order is focused smaller casings and tubulars.

The conductor pipes needed are 36 inches in diameter while the big casings are 20 inches in diameter.

This equipment has to be delivered in batches to match drilling operations offshore.

The second order covers the provision of smaller diameter well casings and completion tubings.

Responses to both of these pre-qualification documents need to be submitted by 2 October.

Feelers for flowlines

Elsewhere, Nigerian junior Enageed Resource is pushing ahead with its Oki-Oziengbe South early production project in the Niger Delta and is now in the market for 20 kilometres of flowlines.

The flowlines are needed to support the company’s planned 10,000 barrels per day early production system (EPS) as well as a 5000 bpd EPS and a pair of oil storage tanks, each with a capacity of 10,000 barrels.

A pre-qualification process has started for a contract covering the engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of four, five-kilometre long flowlines.

Responses are due by 12 October after which technical and commercial bid documents will be issued and sent back, targeting contract award this year.

Enageed — a subsidiary of Sahara Group-owned Asharami Energy — operates the Oki-Oziengbe South asset in OML 148, but because the asset extends into OML 111, state-owned Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation is a partner in the project.