We were had, Lekoil admits
London-listed Lekoil was the victim of a scam that has all the hallmarks of a classic advance fee fraud case, the company admitted at the close of January 13.
Nigeria
Lekoil suspends shares on questionable Qatari financing
Lekoil’s plans in Nigeria have been thrown into doubt, and trading in the company’s shares suspended, as a finance deal that was supposed to have been signed with the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) appears to have been bogus.
NPDC looks deeper at OML 49
Nigerian Petroleum Development Co. (NPDC) has issued an invitation for companies to pre-qualify for work on OML 49, where the subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) works with Chevron.
Lekoil lines up Qatari support for Ogo appraisal
Lekoil has set out plans to raise a $184 million loan from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to fund work on the OPL 310 area, offshore Nigeria.
LNG carrier attacked offshore Sao Tome
Piracy continues to threaten shipping approaching Nigeria’s maritime space, with the LNG Lokoja vessel attacked on December 28, Dryad Global has reported.
Making progress with Progressive TSL
Working in different locations presents various logistical problems for companies – a problem Progressive TSL aims to tackle.
Lekoil goes local to pay off Shell debt
Lekoil has paid off its debt to Shell Western Supply and Trading through the raising of a new loan from FBNQuest Merchant Bank.
TGS kicks off deepwater Nigeria survey work
TGS and PetroData intend to carry out Nigeria’s first multibeam and seafloor sampling (MB&SS) study. Results will be available early in the second quarter of 2020.
KBR wins Nigerian condensate consulting work
KBR has won project management consultancy (PMC) services on the front-end engineering design (FEED) work for a proposed condensate refinery plan in Nigeria.
Eland sale puts Westhill base on thin ice
Nigeria’s Seplat Petroleum has completed its acquisition of Eland Oil and Gas, which owns assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
Nigeria fires off fresh P&ID challenge
Nigeria has filed a new challenge to the case brought against it by Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID), over a failed gas project in Calabar.
Shell wins ruling blocking enforcement of Nigerian spill case
Royal Dutch Shell Plc won a ruling preventing London courts from enforcing a $516 million Nigerian judgment for damages caused by an oil spill almost five decades ago.
Nigeria yet to make contact with pirates holding oil tanker crew
Nigerian security forces have mounted an intensive search for pirates who raided an oil super tanker off it’s coast and seized 19 crew members but have so far not made any contact with the hostage takers, the West African country’s maritime agency said.
19 kidnapped from VLCC off Nigeria
A VLCC offshore Nigeria has been attacked and 19 crewmembers seized. This appears to be the first time such a ship has been targeted in this region.
Africa makes its case for gas at GECF
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has wrapped up in Malabo, bringing to a close a global discussion on the use and development of gas.
Nigeria’s ex-attorney general arrested in Dubai over OPL 245
Nigeria’s former attorney general Mohammed Adoke has been arrested in Dubai, according to his lawyer Mike Ozekhome in comments to Reuters.
Savannah completes Nigerian entry with Seven Energy
It has been a long time coming, but Savannah Petroleum has completed its acquisition of Seven Energy, broadening its focus from Nigerien exploration to including Nigerian production.
Action needed on Nigerian oil theft
Nigeria loses 138,400 barrels per day of crude, around 7% of its total production, to theft, spills or shut-in production, according to a report from the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
West African decommissioning regime still to be tested
Nigeria and Angola are coming to terms with the regulatory and legal demands of decommissioning, with scope for knowledge transfer from more mature regions.
Crew members snatched off Benin and Togo
Four crew members have been kidnapped from a Greek oil tanker off Togo, following the seizing of nine sailors from a vessel carrying gypsum on November 2 off Benin.
Africa Oil goes it alone in Nigeria deal
Africa Oil will go it alone in the acquisition of stakes in major fields offshore Nigeria after its partners, Delonex Energy and Vitol Investment Partnership, both withdrew.
Nigeria’s royalty move to choke off supply, group warns
A new bill increasing taxation on Nigeria’s oil industry would drive a decline in deepwater production of around 20% by 2023, industry group Oil Producer Trade Section (OPTS) has said.
Seplat cuts production hopes
Seplat Petroleum’s production slipped during the first nine months of 2019 versus the same period in 2018, although profit increased substantially.
Russia meets Africa at Sochi
A number of African states are in the process of visiting Sochi, largely in the hope of signing deals for new investment.
Eni burnishes credentials with Obiafu 41 start
Eni has begun producing gas and condensate from its Obiafu 41 find, with output going to the domestic power market.