Robert Ade-Odiachi, chief executive officer of Independent Project Monitoring Company Limited (IPMC), has launched VAIL-Plant Inspection Software which targets a 15 per cent reduction in oil production costs.
Addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the “IPMC-VAIL Inspection Software Solution for Asset Integrity Managers” conference, Ade-Odiachi outlined how the technology would boost asset integrity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, improving output and cutting costs.
Ade-Odiachi said that the software is designed to address critical challenges posed by ageing infrastructure in Nigeria’s oil and gas facilities.
“Our oil production assets are decades old and have not been properly maintained,” he said, emphasising that most of Nigeria’s oil production facilities ranging from pipelines to flow stations are in a dilapidated state, contributing to reduced production capacity.
The new software, in partnership with Velosi Asset Integrity Limited, is part of a holistic solution that includes capacity building and real-time monitoring and aims to help oil and gas operators identify critical assets and reduce the corrosion and damage that often compromise these assets.
The CEO said that the software offers 12 modules for clients, including the Asset Performance Management System (APMS), Pressurised Equipment Management System (PEMS), Structure Integrity Management System (SIMS), and Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS).
Others are Electrical Instrument and Rotary Management Systems, Pressure Safety Valves Management Systems (PSVMS), Lifting Equipment Management System (LEMS), Civil Integrity Management Systems (CIMS), Well Integrity Management Systems (WIMS), Inspection Scheduling Management System (ISMS), Petrol Station Risk Assessment (PSRA), and Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
“With our solution, operators can maintain and refurbish assets without replacing entire pipelines, helping reduce costs and extend the life of these critical infrastructures,” Ade-Odiachi said.
Adding to this, Albert Echibe, senior manager of asset integrity at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), highlighted the regulator’s commitment to ensuring compliance in asset management and production processes.
He praised the VAIL-Plant software for its real-time monitoring features, which allow NUPRC to oversee operators’ maintenance activities remotely.
“We can now view the integrity status of critical infrastructure directly from the regulator’s office, and this will help us enforce the guidelines we set in 2023,” Echibe said.
He emphasised that the regulator is actively working with operators to ensure that guidelines are followed.
“This tool will assist in ensuring that operators adhere to maintenance schedules and allow us to intervene when necessary, reducing the risk of equipment failure, oil spills, and other hazards,” he explained.
Echibe further stressed the importance of regular maintenance and refurbishment, particularly of Nigeria’s ageing pipelines and terminal facilities.
“We have assets that have far exceeded their intended operational life, and this software is a step in the right direction towards prolonging the life of these assets,” he added.
