By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s total gas output dipped by 3.7 per cent to 166.458 billion standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas in October 2023 from the 172.77 billion SCF (BCF) of gas produced in September 2023.
According to the latest data released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in its gas production and utilisation report, out of this total gas output, 9.796 billion SCF was flared, representing 5.9 per cent of total gas output.
The volume of gas flared in October was 4.1 per cent lower than the 10.21 billion SCF of gas flared in September 2023.
Giving a breakdown of the total gas produced and utilized, the NNPC stated that output from associated gas (AG) stood at 114.47 billion SCF, while non-associated gas (NAG) stood at 51.987 billion SCF.
In addition, the NNPC stated that of the total gas produced in October, apart from the 9.796 billion SCF flared, 156.661 billion SCF of gas was utilized, dropping by 3.63 per cent from the 162.561 billion SCF of gas utilized in September 2023.
Analyses of gas utilization data showed that 10.334 billion SCF of the commodity was utilized as fuel gas; 56.497 billion SCF was allocated to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG); while 7.425 billion SCF of gas was allocated to the Escravos Gas-to-Liquid (EGTL) project.
In addition, Natural Gas Liquid/Liquefied Petroleum Gas (NGL/LPG) gas output stood at 4.032 billion SCF; domestic gas sales by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and others stood at 23.956 billion SCF, while gas re-injection and gas lift make-up stood at 54.417 billion SCF.
Furthermore, the NNPC reported that Nigerian Petroleum Development Company – Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (JV) and Seplat were the worst offender in terms of gas flaring, as they each flared 100 per cent of their total gas output of 184 million SCF and 202 million SCF of gas.
Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR) from its Agbara field, First E&P and Enageed Resources from Oil Mining Lease 148 followed, flaring 94.53 per cent, 93 per cent and 92.53 per cent of their gas output of 170 million SCF; 824 million SCF and 109 million SCF of gas respectively.
Others are Aiteo, which flared 50.72 per cent of its total gas output; Nigerian Agip Exploration, Abo Floating Production Storage and Offloading, with flared gas of 46.14 per cent of its total output; Newcross 44.28 per cent of its total output and Heirs Holding Oil and Gas (HHOG) joint venture, which flared 15 per cent of its gas output.
The least offenders are Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), flaring 0.01 per cent and 1.58 per cent from OML 143 and 146, respectively; Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG)- 1.02 per cent; Shell Nigeria Bonga FPSO – 0.54 per cent and Shell JV, which flared 3.8 per cent of its total gas output.
Modupe Gbadeyanka