1. Many Akalaka people especially those of Ikwerre origin often claim that Igbos like to “claim them” because of the massive oil and gas resources in their land. The Igbos who according to them lack natural resources like oil and gas, want to annex Ikwerre, Ogba and Ekpeye and integrate them as Igbos in order to selfishly exploit their resources. For this reason, I decided to carry out some research myself. Are we really parasites? Is Igbo land “dry” as the usual narrative suggests? We know that Imo, Abia, Anioma, Anambra and Enugu all have oil and gas resources. What Is the quantity of oil and gas from these area and is it comparable to what is produced from Akalaka land (Ikwerre, Ogba and Ekpeye)? This is what this write-up tries to answer. Nigeria has proven reserves of about 37 billion barrels for oil and 187 tcf of gas. As a member of OPEC and because our oil reserves of 37 billion barrels compared to other members like Saudi Arabia is relatively “small”, we are compelled therefore to produce maximally some 2.4 million bopd of oil. Saudi Arabia has 250 billion barrels; it thus can produce over 8 million bopd.
2. Of the 2.4 million bopd; one third of it comes from the big deep offshore fields. These fields includes Agbami (which Mrs Alakija , has some interests and produces over 200,000 bopd); Akpo ( which TY Danjuma has some interests and produces over 180,000 bopd) ; Erha operated by ExxonMobil with some 200, 000 bopd ; Bonga operated by SNEPCO or Shell which produces over 200,000 bopd. The remaining ones are Abo, Okpoho/Okono and Agbara all operated by AGIP subsidiaries contributing no less than 50,000 bopd. In total these fields all in the ocean produce no less than 800,000 bopd. The 13 per cent derivation does not cover these fields. These fields are the ones mainly sustaining Nigeria considering the crisis in the Niger-Delta area.
3. The balance of 1.6 million bopd is distributed (approximately) as follows Akwa-Ibom (about 480,000 bopd); Delta (about 380, 000; hosting Erha ); Rivers (about 340,000 bopd; hosting Akpo , Okpoho/Okono ) ; Bayelsa (which hosts Agbami and Bonga; some 300; 000 bopd) while the balance of approximately 100,000 bopd comes from Ondo, Edo, Imo and Abia States. Ondo hosts the Abo field. Now lets look at the states and compare with the Akalaka area. These production rates
IMO (including Egbema clan which had been merged to Rivers State)
The following are the production rates of the fields from the area.
1. AHIA (5 wells) 4,300 bopd and 1.4 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
2. EGBEMA (3 wells) 3,000 bopd ;1 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
3. JISIKE ( 4 wells) 4,400 bopd; 1.6 bscf annually of gas (source: DPR)
4. OGUTA (13 oil wells) 7,500 bopd; 14 bscf annually of gas (source: DPR)
5. IZOMBE (9 wells) 1,750 bopd ; 3 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
6. OSSU (5 wells) 1,750 bopd ; 2.2 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
7. IBIGWE (4 wells) 3,000 bopd; 0.06 bscf of gas (Waltersmith’s website and DPR)
8. EGBEMA WEST (5 wells) 4,100 bopd; 1.6 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
9. MBEDE (23 wells) 9,700 bopb; 65.2 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
10. EBOCHA (19 wells) 8,200 bopd ; 39 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
11. ALINSO (1 well) ; 0.6 bscf of gas and 1,000 bopd (source: DPR)
NOTES
1. In the list of the oil fields, Nos 8,9 and 10 belong to Egbema part of Rivers State. It contributes some 22,000 bopd of oil to Rivers State with gas production even more impressive (about 105.8 bscf annually). The gas is exported via the Bonny LNG. For what is now defined as Imo State, oil production stands at 26,700 bopd and gas at 23.9 bscf annually. Total for what I can conveniently brand as “Imo sphere of influence” is 48,700 bopd and gas production at 129.7 bscf annually.
2. The major companies operating in the area are Shell(or SPDC) at Ahia, Oguta, Egbema, and Egbema West . Seplat operates Jisike while Addax is in charge of Izombe and Ossu. An indigenous company Walter Smith operates Ibigwe and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company operates Mbede, Alinso and Ebocha. Akri also operated by NAOC had been ceded to Rivers following the Supreme Court case between Oguta and Ndoni communities.
3. The oil and gas producing areas are concentrated in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs which discoveries in Orsu, Ngor Okpala, Oru West and East and adjoining areas.
4. Owerri, was the original host of Shell-Nigeria before it relocated to Port Harcourt.
5. Egbema clan comprising of 16 villages from the figures is well-endowed in oil and gas resources.
PART 2
PROSPECTS (IMO STATE)
Imo has lots of prospects which would transform her into one of the major oil and gas producing regions of Nigeria. The following points gives a clearer picture.
1. In OML 53 operated by Seplat, apart from Jisike , the undeveloped oil and gas fields includes Ohaji, Heoma , Odinma; Emeabiam and Alaoma.
2. In OML 16 where the Ibigwe oil field lies hosts other undeveloped oil and gas fields and these includes Oguali, Ukpichi and Ikwegbu fields.
3. OML 153 – Izombe extends into this block and other fields include Ilomba, Anuri and Ihuo. Note that Ihuo was the first field drilled in Nigeria. With modern drilling methods as well as a greater emphasis on gas, Ihuo could perhaps be brought into production.
4. In the AHIA oil block, other discoveries include Oboyi, Aggah, Nkissa, Alubi, Amapu (an enormous gas field), Sombreiro River (an oil field), and Assa.
5. In OML 20, is the Oforola oil discovery near Egbema operated by Shell which hs not been developed.
6. OML 124 operated by Addax and covering an area of 300 km2. It hosts the Ossu and Izombe fields. A third field named NJABA has been discovered and indications suggest that it’s a big find.
7. OPL 277 with 4 wells drilled so far and operated by the Indian company, Sterling Global indicates an enormous find named AGU. It is hoped by 2017, it will be brought into production with an initial rate of 6,000 bopd.
IKWERRE LAND
Now let us take a closer look on Ikwerre land (covering some 2,000 km2 of territory and hosting parts of the Port Harcourt metropolitan area). The following are the fields in the area
1. RUMUEKPE (1 productive well) 800 bopd and 0.035 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
2. MININTA (6 wells) 14,200 bopd and 3.5 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
3. OBELE (2 wells) 800 bopd and 0.43 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
4. AGBADA (35 wells) 22,000 bopd; 4.36 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
5. ELELENWA (3 wells) 7800 bopd ; 1.13 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
6. OGBELE (6 wells) 4,000 bopd; 1 bscf of gas annually(source: DPR and company’s website)
These are the fields in Ikwerre land. Now let us take some notes.
1. The total production is about 49,000 bopd of oil and gas production stands at 10.455 bscf of gas annually. Considering that Nigeria produces some 4,000 bscf of gas annually, Ikwerre land does not contribute up to 1 per cent of the total. The oil production is much more impressive.
2. Rumuekpe, Minita , Obele and Ogbele lies in Emohua LGA; Elelenwa (covering Apara and Akpor fields) lies in OPA (Obio-Akpor-Port Harcourt) and Agbada lies in Ikwerre LGA and its hosted by Igwuruta and Aluu communities primarily.
3. All Ikwerre fields are operated by Shell (or SPDC) except Ogbele which is operated by a company called Niger Delta Petroleum Exploration Company.
PROSPECTS
1. The Ubima field is presently being developed by Eland oil and gas. Ubima hosts 4 wells and covers an area measuring 65km2. According to the company website, Eland, Ubima can produce 2,000 bopd of oil daily which could be increased with time. Reserve in the field is about 30 million barrels.
2. There is a possibility that the importance of Ogbele would be enhanced with more drilling. But Ogbele is largely a gas province. And the gas to oil ratio is really high. Near Ogbele is the the Omerelu field which is also being developed by the same company. Three wells had been drilled. Just like Ogbele it is mainly a gas field. The development of the Ogbele and Omerelu fields will push the gas production rate from Ikwerre land significantly.
3. Other discovered leads and fields within Ikwerre land includes Umuanwa; Nroo; Izomini; Ogbodo; Apani , Walima , Emohua and Isoba.
OGBA
This is the “golden boy” of the Akalaka group and considering its area of less than 600km2, there is a good reason for calling the area that. Let us look closer to the level of production from the area.
1. EREMA (2 wells) 450 bopd ; 0.14 bscf of gas (source DPR)
2. OBAGI (60 wells) 18,000 bopd ; 12 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
3. OLO (4 wells) 1,700 bopd; 0.9 bscf (source: DPR)
4. IBEWA CONDENSATES ( 10 wells) 6,400 bopd ; 32.3 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
5. IBEWA Oil (1 well) 1,000 bopd; 5 bscf oof gas annually (source: DPR)
6. OBAGI DEEP (1 well) 2,000 bopd; 9.7 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
7. OBAGI GAS CAP (1 well) – no oil but produces 2 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
8. EBEGORO (6 wells) 5,450 bopd of oil; 9.8 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
9. IDU (10 wells) 19,200 bopd of oil; 19.9 bscf of gas annually(source: DPR)
10. OBRIKOM (12 wells) 5, 100 bopd; 25.79 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
11. OMOKU WEST (1 well) 800 bopd ; 2.53 bscf of gas annually (source: DPR)
NOTES
1. Two major multi-national companies operate in Ogba land namely NAOC and Totalfina. The fields from No1 to 7 lies primarily in the part of Ogba land called EGI and Totalfina operates here while No 8 to 11 lies in Igburu and Usomini areas and NAOC is the main concern in the axis. Obrikom hosts the enormous OB-OB gas plant though the bulk of the gas used in the plant comes from Obiafu (in Ndoni). Oil production is about 60,100 bopd. While gas production is even more impressive with 3 per cent of the total gas produced in Nigeria.
2. To get a better picture of what ONELGA contributes to Rivers State, let us add up what Ndoni, Ogba and Egbema clans produce. We get no less than 104,000 bopd of oil and as well as over 350 bscf of gas annually from just one LGA. Considering that Rivers now produces about 340,000 bopd of oil, ONELGA alone contributes some 30 per cent of the total.
3. The prospect for developing new fields in Ogba land is low. However, Ogba fields are prolific and would produce for many years to come.
EKPEYE
Unlike their Ogba cousins, Ekpeye land is “underachieved” at least when it comes to oil and gas production. The following are fields in Ekpeye land and there is a possibility that some of these fields possibly spill over to the Ijaw-Engenni area.
1. UBIE (4 wells) 1,400 bopd; 0.84 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
2. OSHI (16 wells) 12,500 bopd; 41.8 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
NOTES
1. Total production for oil from Ekpeye land is 13,900 bopd of oil and gas is 42.64 bscf which is more than what comes from Ikwerre land. Adibawa which is operated by Shell has been placed as part of Engenni-Ijaw.
2. Ubie is operated by Shell while Oshi is by NAOC.
3. Prospect is high since there are a few oil and gas leads in the area. In addition, the fields in this area like Ogba land are quite prolific and will keep producing for a long time to come.
ETCHE
Etche does not belong to the Akalaka group but it is important to research into the Etche area in order to get a better picture and make the right comparison. The following belongs to Etche kingdom.
1. NKALI (4 wells) 1,900 bopd ; gas production at 5.125 bscf annually (source: DPR)
2. OTAMINI (2 wells) 1,300 bopd; 0.6 bscf annually of gas (source: DPR)
3. UMUECHEM (4 wells) 2,500 bopd; 1.2 bscf of gas (source: DPR)
4. IMO RIVER (32 wells) 8,000* bopd; 1.3 bscf* of gas (source: DPR)
NOTES
1. All fields are operated by Shell.
2. The total production is put 13,700 bopd and gas production is at 8.225 bscf annually. For the Imo River field, there is an asterisk. Its shared with Abia State. The rule of thumb is to give one-third of the production to Etche and two-thirds to Ukwa West (Ndoki) area of Abia State. So Etche gets one-third of the 24,100 bopd of oil and 4 bscf of gas from Imo River.
3. The prospect from Etche is very good especially in gas production. The following are undeveloped gas fields in Etche namely Onyika, Amadioha, Odagwa and Ola. The oil fields which are yet to be developed includes Isu and Owu(operated by Seplat).
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