Oloibiri Oilfield
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| Oloibiri | |
|---|---|
  Location of the Oloibiri oil field within Nigeria | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Region | Niger Delta |
| Location | Bayelsa State |
| Block | OML29 |
| Offshore/onshore | Onshore |
| Coordinates | 4°41′30.12″N 6°21′33.3″E / 4.6917000°N 6.359250°E |
| Operator | SPDC |
| Partners | Royal Dutch Shell BP (till 1979) |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 15 January 1956 |
| Start of development | 1956 |
| Start of production | 1958 |
| Peak year | 1964 |
| Abandonment | 1978 |
| Production | |
| Year of current production of oil | 1958 |
| Peak of production (oil) | 5,100 barrels per day (~3.2×105 t/a) |
| Estimated oil in place | 40.94 million barrels (~7.004×106 t) |
| Recoverable oil | 20.06 million barrels (~3.432×106 t) |
| Producing formations | Agbada Formation |
Oloibiri Oilfield is an onshore oilfield located in Oloibiri in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State,[1] Nigeria, and was the first to be discovered in that country.[2] It is located about [citation needed]45 miles (72 km) east of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta.[3] Oloibiri field is about 13.75 square kilometres (5.31 sq mi) and lies in a swamp within OML 29 [4]
Oloibiri Oilfield is named after Oloibiri, ano small, remote creek community, where it is located.[5] In Nigeria, oilfields are usually named after the host community where it is located or a local landmark. Sometimes, oilfields are also given names taken from indigenous languages.[4]
The field is currently operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company[6] of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).[7] The field was originally operated by Shell Darcy. On 30 April 1956, Shell Darcy changed its name to Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited to reflect BP's interest.[citation needed] In 1979, it changed its name again to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited[8](SPDC) following the nationalisation of BP's interest by the government.[9]
Oloibiri Oilfield was discovered on Sunday 15 January 1956 by Shell Darcy.[10] It was the first commercial oil discovery in Nigeria; this discovery ended 50 years of unsuccessful oil exploration in the country by various international oil companies and launched Nigeria into the limelight of the Petro-State.[11]
Following the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Oloibiri, Shell stepped up exploration in the Niger Delta and by 1958 Shell Darcy had discovered oil in twelve areas in the Niger Delta of which Oloibiri, Afam and Bomu were the most promising.[citation needed]
The discovery well Oloibiri −1 was spudded on 3 August 1955 and drilled vertical to a total depth of 108 feet (3660m).[12] The well was tested and it flowed at the rate of about 5,000 barrels (790 m3) of oil per day and it was deemed to be a commercial discovery. Some gas was also discovered with the oil. The oil discovery was made in the Tertiary Agbada.[10]
Appraisal
Between 26 June 1956 and 28 October 1958, 11 appraisal wells were drilled vertical to the appraisal of the extension[13] of the reservoir to different sections of the field.[citation needed] The first appraisal well was Oloibiri-2, it was spudded on 26 June 1956 and drilled vertically to a total depth of 2932m and it encountered oil in the Agbada Formation.[citation needed] Six of these appraisal wells were a success and encountered oil pay.[14]
An appraisal well Oloibiri-17 was spudded on 9 June 1967 after 9 years of production and drilled deviated to a measured depth of 12520 feet (3816 mD) but the result was not encouraging.[citation needed] Oloibiri-17 was plugged and abandoned. The field production was on depletion from its peak production and the well was drilled to appraisal another section of the field so as to increase production.[15]
Another appraisal well Oloibiri-18 was spudded on 21 April 1979 and drilled to a vertical depth of 9616 feet (2931 m) but the result was also discouraging.[citation needed] The field was almost depleted at that time.[citation needed] The main objective of the Oloibiri-18 was to appraise a new section and improve the drainage of the reservoir but the well was dry with shows and so it was plugged and abandoned.[15][citation needed]
