OML 29

OML 29 is a large block in the onshore southern Niger Delta with twelve oil and gas fields, four of which are producing. The block is one of the largest in the Niger Delta by remaining oil reserves. The block also contains significant amounts of free gas and associated gas volumes, some of which are evacuated to Nigeria LNG. The terrain is mangrove swamp intersected by multiple rivers and creeks, which makes operations difficult, especially during the rainy season. The largest field on OML 29 is Nembe Creek. Crude was exported by the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), which runs 97 kilometres east from Nembe Creek, to a manifold at Cawthorne Channel on OML 18. From here, it was evacuated a short distance to the Bonny oil terminal. The NCTL was replaced in 2010 for US$1.1 billion. Even though it was designed to be tamper-proof, it has suffered epidemic levels of crude theft and is one of the most affected pipelines in Nigeria. In March 2015, Shell, Total and Eni completed the sale of the...