Developed as part of the Western Corridor Gas project, Atuabo Gas Plant is a natural gas processing plant at Atuabo in the Nzemaland of the Western Region in Ghana.
Atuabo Gas Plant was built between July 2011 and late 2015 at a cost of about US$ 1bn. Led by the Sinopec Inc of China, a total of ten companies took part in the implementation of the project which also included the design and construction of a 45-kilometer shallow water extension of a pipeline from FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to the onshore processing plant at Atuabo.
The project also had the construction of a 111-kilometer transmission pipeline from the Atuabo to the Aboadze Power Enclave in the Shama District. Moreover, it included the construction of a metering station at Esiama and another line to the northern part of the region.
The facility processes more than 180,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic use. This represents approximately 70% of the national requirement of 240,000 tonnes. Moreover, the Atuabo Gas Plant will also deliver 46, 000 tonnes of condensate in about 15,000 tonnes of isophthalic.
Reported on May 6, 2014
Atuabo Gas plant in Ghana to be complete by July
The Aboadze Thermal Plant is to receive gas from the Atuabo Gas Plant by July this year. The construction of the plant started in the last quarter of 2011 at a cost of US$750m and was to be completed by the end of March this year.
The gas plant will produce 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. but should rise to produce 70 million standard cubic feet per day, with a potential increase to 120 million standard cubic feet per day by the beginning of October this year.
The Ghana Minister for Energy and petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, revealed that gas supply from Nigeria to the West African Pipeline had dropped from 80 million standard cubic feet per day to 30 million due to repair works, thus affecting power generation at the Aboadze Thermal Plant. He urged all stakeholders to intervene and ensure that the Gas project is completed on schedule.
Reported on May 29, 2014
Ghana’s Atuabo gas processing plant ready for first gas flow
Filters at the US$850m Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in Ghana are ready and the first flow of wet gas from the Jubilee Fields to the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant is for July. This follows the completion of the installation works at the gas processing plant.
However, the connection from the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Kwame Nkrumah in the Jubilee Fields to the Ghana Gas Company (GGC) pipeline is by two deepwater developments in the Atlantic Ocean.
Working Around The Clock
According to GGC officials and the project managers, they are working assiduously to address the two critical developments which are having an adverse effect on the schedule for the first flow of wet gas.
The GGC is working in collaboration with Tullow Oil in tracing the pig receiver and tackling the free span. Tullow Oil has also put its associated gas in a reservoir tank, awaiting the resolution of the outstanding tasks. The laying of pipes and the fixing of the pig receiver were done by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) about five years ago in a 14km stretch of deep water.
The major installation at the project site is a power processing unit that would produce electricity to feed the plant. The project is also hooked to the national grid. Phase two of the gas project will involve, the transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Atuabo to Tema by vessels.
Oil and gas exploration in South Ghana is ongoing and the amount of both crude oil and natural gas continues to increase. The expected annual tremendous inflow of capital from crude oil and natural gas production into the Ghana economy began in the first quarter of 2011 when Ghana started producing crude oil and natural gas in commercial quantities.
The Ghanaian government has indicated that the country could expand its reserves up to 5 billion barrels (790,000,000 m3) of oil in reserves within a few years.
Reported on Jun 9, 2014
Lack of funds delayed the completion of the Atuabo Gas project in Ghana
Construction of a gas processing plant at Atuabo, in western Ghana, which started in the first quarter of 2012, is yet to be complete and now the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) says it is not to blame for the delay in the completion of the project. Atuabo Gas attributes the delay in the execution of the gas project to the lack of funds.
In a statement issued by the company, signed by the Corporate Communications Manager, Alfred Ogbamey, says the project which is now about two years and three months old, has suffered a total loss of about 10 months of project time because of financial challenges which Ghana Gas had no control over.
Atuabo Gas Plant Affected By Delays
The statement also highlights that, in September 2012, the EPCC Contractor, Sinopec, was down for three months because of late payments. As a result of delayed payment, Sinopec was unable to pay some of its sub-contractors, including Thermo Design Engineering (TDE) of Canada, the company that fabricated the gas processing plant modules.
Micoperri, the sub-contractor installing the offshore pipeline system, was down from the site in May 2013. The demolition was a result of delayed disbursement and remobilized in December 2013 after it had received payment. The company further explained that TDE refused to ship the last components of equipment for the gas processing plant earlier enough for them to arrive in June 2013 because of delayed payment.
Ghana Gas said it will continue with the primary plan of the installation of a jetty and LPG pipeline as a long-term solution for NGLs evacuation, as it expects additional gas infrastructure development in the near future.
Ghana’s Need For Reliable Electricity
Ghana has about 800 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of proven natural gas reserves. However, the country does not currently produce dry natural gas. After discovering the Jubilee oil field in 2007, Ghana’s energy sector has expanded considerably. The field came online in 2010. Thereafter, production in Ghana has since jumped from 7,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2009 to 78,000 bbl/d in 2011, and 80,000 bbl/d in 2012.
Tullow, the field’s operator, experienced technical problems at the field that caused production to fall well below output goals in 2012. Proved crude oil reserves are 660 million barrels, as of January 1, 2013. However, given recent discoveries and further oil exploration, reserves are to rise.
Currently, most Ghanaians rely on biomass sources, particularly wood fuels, and charcoal, for household needs. Government statistics place the consumption of biomass fuels at slightly more than 60 % of total energy consumption in Ghana. However, as part of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, Ghana would like to reduce reliance on wood fuels and charcoal. More especially through expanding access to the national electric grid and developing oil and gas resources.
Ghana relies heavily on hydroelectricity. In fact, it accounts for 85% of electricity generation. However, past droughts have disrupted supplies and the country hopes to increase electricity generation from natural gas.
Reported On Jun 13, 2014
Ghana’s gas project grinds to a halt as court stops construction activities
A High Court in Ghana has stopped the Ghana National Gas Company, SINOPEC, and three others from carrying on with activities in Atuabo in Western Region.
The companies have been working to complete the gas infrastructure project at Atuabo to enable the country to produce its own gas by the end of the year. In the project, we process 150 million Standard Cubic Feet of raw gas per day from the Jubilee Oilfield.
The court slapped the firms with an interlocutory order restraining them from carrying on any activity on the land on which Ghana Gas operates until the company regularises its occupation with the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council in the next 14 days.
Justice Kofi Akrowia said he could not grant a permanent injunction by the Omanhene of the Eastern Nzema Traditional area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III to restrain all work on the project until the case reaches a resolution..
In an affidavit in support of the suit, Awulae Kpanyinli said none of the companies had lawfully acquired the land from the traditional authority, adding that Ghana Gas initially approached the council and presented drinks indicating its preparedness to acquire the land.
Giving the order, the judge could not comprehend how a big national project such as the gas project could have undergone development without due diligence on the acquisition of the land.
Ghana Gas is a mid-stream gas business company with the responsibility to build, own and operate infrastructure required for the gathering, processing, transporting, and marketing of natural gas resources in the country.
Reported On Jun 16, 2014
Lack of funding drags the completion date for the Atuabo Gas processing plant
Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) has shifted the completion and pre-commissioning date of its processing plant at Atuabo to the end of July this year due to Financial and technical challenges.
This new development has resulted in the reduction of the production of oil at the Jubilee Fields from 115,000 barrels per day to 103,000. The completion and pre-commissioning date for the processing plant were set for the end of March, this year.
According to Daily Graphic, the total volume that will be for daily shipment to Aboadze is approximately 30 million standard cubic feet (SCF), a volume that is enough to feed one generating unit at the power enclave.
Head of Public Affairs of Ghana Gas, Mr. Alfred Ogbamey Tetteh, said that the company was aware of the intended bypass by the Jubilee Partners.
“It is important to note that there are several factors behind the release of funds to sub-contractors, which led to the delay in meeting some of the set target dates,” he said.
He said on two occasions, two major sub-contractors demobilized and left the site for more than seven months due to the lack of funds, adding that Ghana Gas lost a vital component offshore, known as the remote operating vehicle (ROV).
Reported On Nov 6, 2014
Construction of the Atuabo gas plant in Ghana comes to a halt
Construction on Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in Ghana has come to a halt for a longer period of time longer as the flaring of gas by Tullow Oil plc still continues.
The flaring up of the gas was to end the previous month but continues to face delays.
Apart from the halting of construction at the plant, delay in gas production has affected operations at Volta River Authority (VRA), which is alternatively using crude oil in power production, though the Authority is facing financial challenges with crude oil procurement.
The Atuabo gas plant is expected to process gas for power and ease the country’s burden in importing crude oil for power generation. It will potentially process 150 million standard cubic feet of natural gas in the first phase once complete, and this will receive a boost of up to 300 million cubic feet a day in the second phase by 2016/2017. There was a previous report in May this year that the construction of the Atuabo gas plant would complete in July.
Reported On Nov 5, 2015
Construction of phase two of the gas project in Ghana gets funding
Chinese firm Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation has offered to finance the construction of phase II of the gas project in Ghana.
The giant Chinese Oil Company has confirmed its capability to finance and ensure early completion of the gas project in Ghana.
For about 352 days, the company has helped the country to produce and process natural gas of 532 million cubic meters; Liquified Petroleum Gas of 71,330.65 tonnes; and Gas condensate of 17,612.40 tonnes locally.
Sinopec International Business Unit Director for the Africa Region, Shen Yan, said the significance of Phase II and the need for its construction to be complete as soon as possible for a much safer way of gas and liquid transportation from the Tema Region.
Ongoing Development Works
About 100 million standard cubic feet of gas that comes from the Atuabo plant is at the moment from Jubilee: about two-thirds of its installed capacity of 150MMSCFD per day. The construction of the Atuabo plant began in April 2012 and was completed in August 2014 under the China Development Bank finance. However, the plant now runs in full operation.
On completion, the plant will have the opportunity to export Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Atuabo to Domunli and again transport it by ship from Domunli to Tema and in return bring in Liquefied Natural Gas.
The project has several construction stages with the first one being bringing in gas from the Jubilee fields to the Atuabo plant followed by the installation of the processing plant supplying of gas to the Aboadze power plant and finally exporting of the LPG and Condensates using oil tankers by road.
In the meantime, the company’s Engineering Advisor has commenced the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) to allow them to determine the project’s specifications such as costs, pipeline routes, and capacity among others.
Reported On Jan 7, 2016
Atuabo Gas plant in Ghana undergoes maintenance amid fears of power interruption
The Atuabo Gas plant in Ghana has been shut down for mandatory maintenance Corporate Communications Manager of Ghana Gas, Mr. Alfred Ogbamey, has announced.
He said that the recommended maintenance of the gas plant is expected to commence on January 15 this year.
However, it is not clear whether the shutdown will affect the country’s power supply as planned maintenance.
It is said that the shutdown of the gas plant is due to the expiration of the US$2.5m insurance cover for the billion-dollar gas plant. The shutdown and inability to renew the insurance have been burdens on the VRA’s inability to settle over US$190m debt owed to the gas processing company.
Ghana Gas has played a vital role in helping VRA to generate more than 630MW of power onto the national grid by supplying over 115million standard cubic feet of gas to the Aboadze thermal enclave on a daily basis
Presently, talks are ongoing with the primary downstream lean gas off-taker, Volta River Authority (VRA), as well as the upstream gas supplier, and the other product off-takers along with the Tullow Ghana Limited to ensure a smooth implementation and completion of the planned maintenance works.
Reported On Jan 27, 2016
Atuabo Gas processing plant in Ghana resumes operation
The Atuabo Gas processing plant in Ghana has resumed its daily operation following the completion of its major maintenance, Ghana Gas Company has announced.
The plant had been shut down for maintenance on January 15 this year by the operators to give room for its maintenance and has been in operation for more than 8,000 hours since 2015. The maintenance should have been for 14 days, however, the work was completed ahead of schedule.
According to the Chief Executive of Ghana Gas Company, Dr. George Sipa Yankey, the engineers who have been working on the project managed to utilize 5 days to complete the work which is the second since lean gas production began. He further confirmed the complete resume of the plant and is now transporting over 110 million standard cubic feet of gas to the Aboadze Thermal plant for power generation.
The plant will now be shut down every 4,000 hours for mandatory maintenance, however, a second compressor will be at the plant to serve as a backup, and when the compressor is successfully put in place, there will be no need to shut down the plant at every 4000 hours.
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana commissioned the US$1bn power plant on September 2015 in the company of the chiefs and people of the Western Region in the Ellembelle district. The plant came at a time when the nation needed it most, for the production of gas to meet the electricity demands of the country. The plant is presently supplying over 140 million cubic feet of gas per day to the Aboadze Thermal Plant.
Reported On Sep 27, 2016
About 3,000MW will generate from the newly constructed Atuabo gas plant in Ghana, Petroleum Minister
About 3,000MW will be generated from the newly constructed Atuabo gas plant in Ghana, Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has announced.
The Atuabo gas plant in Ghana has been supplying over 100 million SCF of gas to sustain the Aboadze thermal plant. However, Atuabo also produced gas as a by-product to encourage the nation’s consumption of LPG.
About 180,000 metric tonnes of LPG from the Atuabo Processing Plant is currently on distribution across the country where as the Petroleum Ministry is currently commissioning a US$70bn project to produce 170 million SCF of gas in the country.
National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Moses Asaga confirmed the initiative’s objective of promoting the use of LPG in the 3 communities in the northern region of the country, being the areas with less than 3% of the total national consumption of LPG.
