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Tanzania
Processing, Distribution & CNG
The infrastructure that processes and transports the gas from Songo Songo Field to Dar es Salaam was commissioned in 2004 and incorporated; two gas processing trains each rated at 35 MMscfd (70 MMscfd total); a high pressure 25-kilometre 12” offshore pipeline and a 207-kilometre 16” onshore pipeline. Orca is the operator of the wells; and of the gas processing plant on behalf of Songas. Songas is operator of the high pressure pipeline system. In 2009 Songas approved the re-rating of the processing plant to a total 90 MMscfd following certification of the increased rate by Lloyds Register. This additional processing capability has allowed Orca to enter into new AG sales contracts to meet growing demand from it’s customers and especially the power sector.
Plans are awaiting approval for an expansion of the existing infrastructure to include the installation of two new gas processing trains bringing total capacity up to 200 MMscfd. This will be combined with the installation of compression to 1) allow a drop in the pressure requirements for the gas at the inlet to the gas processing plant, and 2) increase the high pressure pipeline throughput from 105 MMscfd to 144 MMscfd. To increase the overall capacity of the system to operate at 200 MMscfd it is required for part of the onshore pipeline to be twinned.
Orca through it’s operating company PanAfrican Energy Tanzania operates a low pressure distribution system that serves industrial markets in the Dar es Salaam area. Initially there were three pressure reduction stations (PRS) and two separate connections to the 16” high pressure pipeline, while a fourth PRS was installed in Q1 2009 specifically to handle Additional Gas sales to the Wazo Hill cement plant.
Since 2004 Orca has constructed in excess of 50 kms of low pressure pipeline and at the end of 2009 35 industrial customers were connected. Three large power stations are also using AG.
In 2009 the commencement of CNG supply by truck to hotels in Dar es Salaam and to vehicles converted to run on CNG has demonstrated the viability of transporting natural gas to customers that are not located on the existing low pressure pipeline network. These CNG projects are the first to be developed in East Africa.