Bell Oil & Gas commissioned her over $4million Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard located at Plot 214 Ordinance Road, Off Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.
The occasion was flooded with dignitaries from all spheres of life starting from the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe, other members of the board, former Group Executive Director (E&P), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Abiye Membere, representatives of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), International Oil Companies (IOCs), National (Indigenous) Oil Companies (NOCs), Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Companies, just to mention few.
The Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd., Mr. Kayode Thomas said the journey that led to the inauguration of the GRE Spool Yard started in 2002, when the company attended the Offshore Technology Conference (OCT) for the first time in Houston, Texas (United State). He stated that the company had now achieved an enviable position in Glassfibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Pipes fabrication, installation and maintenance, with a range of completed and ongoing contracts on several FPSOs and Oil & Gas facilities in the country.
He further stated that “initially, we thought these were not likely to have much prospects in Nigeria. But upon further digging we realized that this pipes had huge advantages over carbon steel pipes in that they are corrosion-resistant. They are light weight (making installation easy). They require no welding (which threw up questions on how exactly the pipes will be joined together), and the applications areas are quite numerous: fire water systems, flow lines, cooling water lines, injection lines, chemical lines and potable water to name a few, even though they appear expensive, they are actually cheaper than steel pipes when you consider the total life cycle cost. The manufacturing methods were different, so were the installation techniques and methods of joining the pipes, meaning you need in-depth technical knowledge and expertise to make GRE work.”
Bell Oil & Gas (BOG) has been in the GRE business since 2004, where they carried out their first GRE installations on the Bonga FPSO. On that vessel, they deployed a team of 24 personnel, over a period of 18months delivering over 100,000 man hours of work. Since then, they have continued to grow their experience and expertise, providing solutions to a wide range of esteemed customers.
Over the last 10 years, we have become the reference point in 3 major areas; says the Chief Operating Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe. “Firstly, we are a reference point in Capacity building – when we started (10 years ago), expatriate supervisors were flown into the country to lead our teams and guarantee the integrity of work done. Today, our GRE teams are all Nigerians who have been trained to international standards. We now have Nigerian supervisors who not only manage projects here in Nigeria but have led teams to other African Countries.
Secondly, by becoming Certified Trainers – we are a reference point across the continent – some of our men are now trained to highest possible level and these men are now license by National Oil well Varco (NOV), our technical partners to train and certify other people on behalf of NOV. In 2015 alone, we have trained about 40 Nigerians carrying out all forms of GRE fabrication and installation works; a number of them now work with us on the projects we are presently executing. Our training is not limited to Nigeria alone, some of our men have recently trained people in Ghana, Angola, Congo and Ivory Coast. We are proud to let you know that BOG is the first of two companies in Africa that have attained this train-the-trainer status.
Thirdly, we are a reference point in local content development in Nigeria. This is where we are today. We have invested in this facility to boost our capabilities and position ourselves to be able to execute high value projects with high complexities and a high volume of GRE piping. This facility is the first of its kind in Africa. It eliminates the need for any company to worry themselves with the importing GRE spools fabricated outside the shores of Nigeria. Doing work here will greatly increase Nigerian Content percentages on projects.”
Bell Oil & Gas have strategically positioned themselves to be the go-to company in Africa for engineering, supply, fabrication and installation of GRE piping systems. BOG is striving to become the synonym for GRE solutions. BOG leads the way in developing viable solutions to corrosion.
Below are some of the pictures of the event;
The Chief Operating Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe welcomes the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe to the event.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe delivering his speech at the Commissioning of Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.
(3rd from left) The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe cut the tape to declare open Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard while the Chief Executive Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Kayode Thomas (1st from left) and other dignitaries and guests look on.
The Chief Executive Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Kayode Thomas addressing the dignitaries and guests at the Commissioning of Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.
The Chief Operating Officer of Bell Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe enlightening dignitaries and guests about the Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) at the Commissioning of Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.
(2nd – 3rd from right) The Operation Manager, Bell Oil & Gas Ltd – Mr. Obinna Odum taking The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe round the Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.
Some of the fabricated GRE Spool Pipes on display at the Bell Oil & Gas Glass-Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Spooling Yard in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday 8th of July, 2015.