Two 180k nitrogen pumps manufactured by Prior Power Solutions in the UK are on their way to Port Harcourt, the city on the Niger Delta at the heart of the African oil and gas industry.
The pumps have been purchased by one of Nigeria’s leading EPC contractors, with a customer base that includes several of the leading names in the global petroleum business.
Nitrogen pumps are crucial pieces of equipment in the oil and gas industry. They are used primarily to convert liquid nitrogen into high-pressure gaseous nitrogen and inject it into various systems or wells to keep them flowing freely.
High-pressure nitrogen is also an effective medium for pneumatic testing the integrity of pipelines, valves and pressure vessels.
Because nitrogen is an inert, non-flammable, and non-corrosive gas, it is ideal for many oilfield operations where safety and stability are essential.
A senior spokesman for the EPC said they had chosen to purchase from Prior Power based on the quality of the product and the speed and efficiency with which the Great Yarmouth-based company had responded to their initial enquiry.
“We were really impressed with their responsiveness,” said the spokesman. “Our head of procurement was dealing with their global sales manager Adrian Sharman, who understood our need and came through swiftly with a price we found very acceptable.
“Many of the services Prior Power provides are complementary to our own, and I expect we will find plenty of synergies as we work together into the future.”
A specialist technician from Prior Power has been made available to conduct a formal training programme at the EPC in Nigeria.
The Port Harcourt-based EPC offers a large range of services, including engineering, project management, procurement, construction and supervision, commissioning and start-up as well as operating and maintenance services.
The two Prior Power 180k nitrogen pumps will be leased to the Nigerian subsidiary of a global oilfield services company which provides both onshore and offshore services, including drilling, pipeline construction, plant construction and maintenance.
Adrian Sharman said nitrogen pump manufacturing was at an all-time high for Prior Power. The 180k, the company’s most popular nitrogen pump, was leading its drive into the global energy sector, with Africa at the top of its export league table.
He said: “Year to date, 40% of our nitrogen pump exports have been to Africa, and we feel there is huge potential in the continent for us.
“We have also been making strong inroads into South America and Australia, and new opportunities are opening up in the Far East and Central Asia.
“These are exciting times for Prior Power and we’re delighted to be flying the flag for UK industry in such a vital sector of world trade.”
The 180k is designed to pump and vaporise 180,000 SCFH (standard cubic feet per hour) with pressures up to 10,000psi. Prior Power’s next most popular model is the 90k (90,000 SCFH).
