[size=14pt]Robot X-ray inspectors in Nigerian pipework probe[/size]
by CW Staff on Aug 29, 2010

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Swiss inspection specialists SGS Industrial Services has drafted in a team of robots to scan thousands of welds on the 60km-long gas pipeline between Ikot Abasi and the Eket Power Station in Nigeria.

The pipeline project is part of a $420m investment in to two gas fields in Nigeria by SEPTA Energy, a subsidiary of Seven Energy Group. SGS was drafted in to test the integrity of the pipeline and each of the 5,500 welds that holds it together.

An inspection team of ten experts used a robotic X-ray crawler to analyse the welds. The crawlers are remotely controlled and X-ray the inside of pipes and produce single wall, single image radiographs of the welds. SGS uses a special model which is suitable for pipelines up to 60 inches in diameter.

So far 2,200 joints have been scanned, and the project is due for completion in December.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-9335-robot-x-ray-inspectors-in-nigerian-pipework-probe/

This is part of the Nigerian Gas Masterplan, which is a quest to ensure adequate supply of gas generate electricty in the big push to zero "Nepa don take light" by the end of next year.
SEPTA's investment in our gas infrastructure will total about $1billion. Changes are coming!
Here's an older article;

[size=14pt]Septa Energy to Invest $1 Billion in Domestic Gas Project[/size]
Chika Amanze-Nwachuku
21 July 2010

Lagos — Federal Government's drive to reposition the domestic gas market for availability of adequate gas for power generation, has received a boost as leading gas developer, Septa Energy, embarks on a $1billion domestic gas project in Nigeria.

The Company's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Scott Aitken, told THISDAY weekend in Akwa Ibom State that the company, a Nigerian subsidiary of Seven Energy Group has invested $420 million in the development of two main gas fields and construction of gas pipeline in the state for delivery of gas to Ibom Power Plant, an Independent Power Plant. He said the fields will produce about 400mscf per day that will be delivered to the domestic market.

According to him, the 60Km gas pipeline, will at the first phase deliver some 43.5mscfp/d of gas to the Ibom Power plant, adding that more gas will be supplied to the power plant as the project expands in the next couple of years.

Aitken said Seven Energy is focused on being a major player in the spirit of the Nigerian Gas Masterplan and that the company's investment plan on the on -going domestic gas project will hit $1 billion.

"The main focus of the company is to develop gas for the domestic market in Nigeria, which no company has been doing historically.

We have invested $420 million in developing those fields, and construction of pipeline to deliver gas to this Ikot Abass location as the first gas delivery point. We are expanding that next year, and the following year over the next two years to other hubs in Aba, Calabar and Port Harcourt.

So from this area, in the heart of Akwa Ibom, we will be able to supply 400mscf per day", he said.

He added: "At the first phase, the gas we are supplying will feed the power station and provide the average energy requirement of one million Nigerians, this is a significant start. And the expansion of this project over the next 18 months will increase that to other hubs in South East Nigeria, delivering gas to power the IPPs, thereby delivering the average energy needs of 10 million Nigerians".

Performing the ground breaking for the construction of the 60km-gas pipeline by Septa Energy at the weekend, President Goodluck Jonathan described it as disappointing, a situation whereby Nigeria's power generation still hovers around 3,000mw, declaring that the only way to move the sector forward is by opening it up to the private sector.

Jonathan regretted that successive administrations did not deem it necessary to open up the sector to the private sector, noting that if private sector were allowed to come in, by now, Nigeria would have been supplying power to the rest of West Africa and some other countries in Africa.

Septa Energy will be the first private indigenous company to supply gas to an IPP. The President lauded the project, saying it will also be a source of gas supply to ASCON's turbines that have been lying fallow due lack of gas.

SEVEN Energy, Nigeria's international gas developer has interests in the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 236 and Oil Mining Lease (OML 56). The company is technical partner in block OPL-236 with OandO plc where it has a discovered gas field, Ukana South, and eight other exploration prospects. In OML 56, the company is the technical partner with Chorus Energy, operating the Matsogo gas field and Igbolo oil field.

The company said its primary focus in both Nigeria and Canada is gas field development and seeks to scalable opportunities to leverage its international standard operating capability to monetise undeveloped resources.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201007210082.html