The West African Gas Pipeline project is currently under construction by Willbros West Africa (WWA), scheduled for completion by December 2006.
The pipeline will extend from the existing Escravos-Lagos pipeline in Nigeria to Takoradi in Ghana, with gas delivery to Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), and Cotonou (Benin).
To provide SCADA and communications services for the pipeline, ABB will supply an integrated local and wide area networking structure for voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephone communication, as well as SCADA control via satellite.
The satellite solution will enable communication and control between a remote control center, a compressor station and five regulation and metering stations for the facilities' SCADA, process control, safety and fire and gas systems.
ABB says it was chosen for the project on the strength of its modular ICT network design, proven in the field in Calgary, Montreal and Houston.
The pipeline is owned by the West African Gas Pipeline Company, which will operate the pipeline on behalf of shareholders including ChevronTexaco (38.2%), Nigerian National Petroleum, Shell, Takoradi Power, Societe Togoliase de Gaz and Societe Bengaz.
The pipeline will have an initial capacity of 130 million cubic feet per day with a projected capacity of 470 million cubic feet per day. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by contributing to a reduction in flaring associated with existing oil production in Nigeria.
The West African Gas Pipeline project also hopes to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse emissions by supplying natural gas to replace the use of fuels such as oil that are “less friendly” to the environment in local power generation and industrial production.
