Oloibiri Oilfield
Encyclopedia
Oloibiri Oilfield is an onshore oilfield located in Oloibiri
in Ogbia
LGA of Bayelsa State
, Nigeria
, about 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta
. Oloibiri field is about 13.75 square kilometres (5.3 sq mi) and lies in a swamp within OML 29. Oloibiri Oilfield is named after Oloibiri, a small, remote creek community, where it is located. In Nigeria, Oilfield is usually named after the host community where it is located or local landmark. Oilfield is also given names taken from indigenous language.
The field is currently operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).The field was originally operated by Shell Darcy. On 30th April 1956, Shell Darcy changed its name to Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited to reflect BP
interest. In 1979, it changed its name gain to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) following the nationalisation of BP interest by the Government.
first commercial oil discovery. The discovery ended 50 years of unsuccessful oil exploration in the country by various companies and launched Nigeria
into the limelight of Petro-State.
Following the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, Shell up stepped up exploration in the Niger Delta
and By 1958 Shell/D'Arcy has discovered oil in twelve areas in the Niger Delta of which Oloibiri, Afam and Bomu were the most promising.
The discovery well Oloibiri −1 was spudded on 03 August 1955 and drilled vertical to a total depth of 12008 feet (3660m). The well was tested and it flowed at the rate of about 5000 barrels (794.9 m³) of oil per day and it was deemed to be a commercial discovery. Some gas was also discovered with the oil. The oil discovery was made in the Tertiary Agbada formation.
Fifteen wells were drilled around this discovery well within the next two years so making Oloibiri, Nigeria's first commercial oil field.
An appraisal well Oloibiri-17 was spudded on 09 June 1967 after 9 years of production and drilled deviated to a measured depth of 12520 feet (3816 mD) but the result was not encouraging. Oloibiri-17 was plugged and abandoned. The field production was on depletion from its peak production and the well was drilled to appraisal another section of the field so as to increase production.
Another appraisal well Oloibiri-18 was spudded on 21 April 1979 and drilled to a vertical depth of 9616 feet (2931 m) but the result was also discouraging. The field was almost depleted at that time. The main objective of the Oloibiri-18 was to appraise a new section and improve the drainage of the reservoir but the well was dry with shows and so it was plugged and abandoned.
The discovery well, Oloibiri-1 was completed on 5 June 1956 as a commercial oil production well. Thus, Oloibiri-1 made history as the first truly commercial oil well in Nigeria. This brings the number of completed production wells on field to eleven.
Royal Dutch Shell
laid the first crude oil pipeline in the country from the Oloibiri field to Port Harcourt on Bonny River to access export facilities. Nigeria exported its first crude oil in February 1958 from the Oloibiri oil field, initially at the rate of 5100 oilbbl/d. The oil was being pumped from the field via the country's first pipeline, laid by Shell.
The Oloibiri oilfield produced over 20 Moilbbl of oil during its 20 years life cycle. Oil production finally stopped in 1978 and the field was abandoned the same year. The Oloibiri oilfield was abandoned without any improved recovery to drain some of the 21.26 Moilbbl of hydrocarbon still left on the field.
• HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN PETROLEUM INDUSTRY http://www.nnpcgroup.com/history
• The History of Shell in Nigeria http://www.shell.com/home/content/nga/aboutshell/who_we_are/history/country/first_steps.html
• Nigeria – History of Oil Explorationhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nigeria+-+History+of+Oil+Exploration-a0205493674
Oloibiri
Oloibiri is a small community in Ogbia LGA located in Bayelsa State, in the eastern Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Oloibiri is a historic town to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria...
in Ogbia
Ogbia
Ogbia is a Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Ogbia in the south of the area at....
LGA of Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, about 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
. Oloibiri field is about 13.75 square kilometres (5.3 sq mi) and lies in a swamp within OML 29. Oloibiri Oilfield is named after Oloibiri, a small, remote creek community, where it is located. In Nigeria, Oilfield is usually named after the host community where it is located or local landmark. Oilfield is also given names taken from indigenous language.
The field is currently operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).The field was originally operated by Shell Darcy. On 30th April 1956, Shell Darcy changed its name to Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited to reflect BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
interest. In 1979, it changed its name gain to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) following the nationalisation of BP interest by the Government.
Exploration history
Oloibiri Oilfield was discovered on Sunday 15th January 1956 by Shell Darcy. It is NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
first commercial oil discovery. The discovery ended 50 years of unsuccessful oil exploration in the country by various companies and launched Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
into the limelight of Petro-State.
Following the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, Shell up stepped up exploration in the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
and By 1958 Shell/D'Arcy has discovered oil in twelve areas in the Niger Delta of which Oloibiri, Afam and Bomu were the most promising.
The discovery well Oloibiri −1 was spudded on 03 August 1955 and drilled vertical to a total depth of 12008 feet (3660m). The well was tested and it flowed at the rate of about 5000 barrels (794.9 m³) of oil per day and it was deemed to be a commercial discovery. Some gas was also discovered with the oil. The oil discovery was made in the Tertiary Agbada formation.
Fifteen wells were drilled around this discovery well within the next two years so making Oloibiri, Nigeria's first commercial oil field.
Appraisal
Between 26 June 1956 and 28 October 1958, 11 appraisal wells were drilled vertical to appraisal the extension of the reservoir to different sections of the field. The first appraisal well was Oloibiri-2, it was spudded on 26 June 1956 and drilled vertically to a total depth of 2932m and it encountered oil in the Agbada Formation. Six of these appraisal wells were a success and encountered oil pay.An appraisal well Oloibiri-17 was spudded on 09 June 1967 after 9 years of production and drilled deviated to a measured depth of 12520 feet (3816 mD) but the result was not encouraging. Oloibiri-17 was plugged and abandoned. The field production was on depletion from its peak production and the well was drilled to appraisal another section of the field so as to increase production.
Another appraisal well Oloibiri-18 was spudded on 21 April 1979 and drilled to a vertical depth of 9616 feet (2931 m) but the result was also discouraging. The field was almost depleted at that time. The main objective of the Oloibiri-18 was to appraise a new section and improve the drainage of the reservoir but the well was dry with shows and so it was plugged and abandoned.
Development
Following the successful completion of the appraisal of the field, four development wells were drilled in 1958 (between 17 June 1958 and 27 November 1958) for the development of the field. The four development wells and the six successful appraisal wells were completed as oil production wells.The discovery well, Oloibiri-1 was completed on 5 June 1956 as a commercial oil production well. Thus, Oloibiri-1 made history as the first truly commercial oil well in Nigeria. This brings the number of completed production wells on field to eleven.
Production
The field started oil production between late 1957 and early 1958 and the first oil production from the field came at the rate of 4928 oilbbl/d. The field produced at an average rate of 5100 barrels (810.8 m³) of oil per day for the first year. The production increased thereafter as more wells were completed and put onto production and reached its peak in 1964. The field was drained from eleven production wells. The oil produced from the field is sour and heavy and has an API of 20.6. The gas produced with the oil was flared off as a result of lack of gas processing and utilisation facility in the country then, so the gas was not considered necessary.Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
laid the first crude oil pipeline in the country from the Oloibiri field to Port Harcourt on Bonny River to access export facilities. Nigeria exported its first crude oil in February 1958 from the Oloibiri oil field, initially at the rate of 5100 oilbbl/d. The oil was being pumped from the field via the country's first pipeline, laid by Shell.
The Oloibiri oilfield produced over 20 Moilbbl of oil during its 20 years life cycle. Oil production finally stopped in 1978 and the field was abandoned the same year. The Oloibiri oilfield was abandoned without any improved recovery to drain some of the 21.26 Moilbbl of hydrocarbon still left on the field.
Reference
• Chuks Onyems, Nigeria Oilfields Encyclopedia.• HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN PETROLEUM INDUSTRY http://www.nnpcgroup.com/history
• The History of Shell in Nigeria http://www.shell.com/home/content/nga/aboutshell/who_we_are/history/country/first_steps.html
• Nigeria – History of Oil Explorationhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nigeria+-+History+of+Oil+Exploration-a0205493674