The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) plans to commence mandatory cleaning and inspection of its offshore pipeline from February 5 to March 2, 2025, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
To this effect, the company has installed all necessary equipment, including an effluent management system, for the project. It involves cleaning pipelines to remove debris, dirt and liquids, as well as inspecting the pipeline’s internal walls.
Done every five years, the exercise is a regulatory requirement to ensure the pipeline’s integrity, maintain its safety and promote smooth operations that align with best practices.
General Manager-Corporate Affairs, WAPCo, Dr. Isaac Adjei Doku, said WAPCo last cleaned and inspected the pipelines in 2020.
He explained that most of the activities will take place offshore at two WAPCo facilities; the Lagos Beach Compressor Station, located at Badgary in Lagos-Nigeria, and the other at the Takoradi Regulating and Metering Station at Aboadze in the Western Region of Ghana.
When the pipeline is sufficiently cleaned, a device known as ‘intelligent PIG’ will be inserted to inspect its internal walls as it travels down to Takoradi. Also, divers will go under the sea to replace subsea valves at the intersection where the pipeline (laterals) from facilities in Cotonou, Lomé and Tema meet the main offshore pipeline.
Dr. Doku briefed media to promote public understanding on how the activities will affect gas transportation services.
During the 28-day exercise, some services will be temporarily suspended – including reverse flow transportation of natural gas from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema in the east and gas transportation services from Nigeria to Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo) and Tema (Ghana).
However, Dr. Doku said WAPCo anticipates only a minimal disruption to host communities’ activities within the vicinity of facilities in Badagry-Nigeria and Aboadze-Ghana, as most activities will be offshore and confined within premises of the company’s facilities.
WAPCo’s engineering and safety teams have worked to develop a comprehensive plan that ensures all activities are completed as safely and efficiently as possible, Dr. Doku has assured.
