TotalEnergies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) have reached a final investment decision (FID) to develop the Ubeta gas field in Nigeria’s OML 58 onshore licence.

TotalEnergies, holding a 40 per cent stake as the operator, will partner with NNPCL, which owns the remaining 60 per cent interest.

The Ubeta gas condensate field, situated approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Port Harcourt in Rivers state, will be developed using a new six-well cluster connected to existing Obite facilities via an 11-kilometre buried pipeline.

Production is slated to commence in 2027, with an expected plateau of 300 million cubic feet per day, equivalent to about 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, including condensates.

This development will augment the existing production from two fields in the OML 58 licence: the Obagi oil field and the Ibewa gas and condensate field.

Gas produced from Ubeta will be supplied to the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) plant on Bonny Island, which is currently undergoing a capacity expansion from 22 to 30 million tonnes per year. TotalEnergies holds a 15 per cent interest in the NLNG plant.

The Ubeta project is designed as a low-emission and cost-effective development, leveraging the existing gas processing infrastructure at OML 58.

To further reduce the project’s carbon footprint, a 5 MW solar plant is under construction at the Obite site, and the drilling rig will be electrified.

Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President of Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, emphasised the project’s alignment with the company’s strategy: “Ubeta fits perfectly with our strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects, and will contribute to the Nigerian economy through higher NLNG exports”.

TotalEnergies is collaborating closely with NNPCL to boost local content, ensuring that over 90 per cent of the project’s work hours will be contributed by local workforce. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to enhance domestic participation in its oil and gas sector.

The Ubeta gas field development represents a significant step in Nigeria’s energy landscape, potentially boosting the country’s gas production and export capabilities while adhering to low-emission standards.