Condensate Production – The Nigerian Perspective

Abstract High Pressure/High Temperature wells are essentially gas-condensate wells and gas injection is a fundamental exploitation strategy for gas-condensate reservoirs. Concerted effort towards appropriate exploitation of this type of wells will lead to enhanced and rational production of condensate. There are four basic sources of condensate; (1) oil well gas plants, (2) gas – condensate field plants, (3) gas well field plants and (4) cycling plants. Regardless of the source, hydrocarbon condensate is of immense value and relevance to global energy demand. With regard to Nigeria, condensate production will uplift the economy as condensate production is out of OPEC regulation. Also condensate is more profitable than crude oil on equal volume basis as its price is comparable to the price of naphtha. Normally the greatest harvest of condensate is from gas – condensate reservoirs operated with cycling plants. This paper highlights the tremendous benefit of rational production of condensate to our economy and strategic energy reserves conservation.