Until recently, petroleum operations resulted in the flaring of most produced gas. In order to reduce economical and environmental damage, the Government, jointly with the operators, has initiated a number of gas utilisation projects. The main focus has been Alba Field and associated plant. 100 mmcfd of Alba gas is now reinjected into the reservoir with the remainder providing the feed for various gas utilisation projects based at Punta Europa in the north of Bioko island.

Gas Processing Plant

The plant has storage capacity for 900,000 bbls condensate and 120,000 bbls LPG. The possible further expansion of Alba Field production could increase liquids production from the plant to 60,000 bcpd and 20,000 bbls LPG/d by 2004. The plant currently processes 150 mmcfgd with an additional 2.0 - 2.5 mmcfgd being used as fuel for the gas plant utility.

Methanol Plant

The Atlantic Methanol Production Company (AMPCO), a consortium comprising Marathon Oil, Samedan and the Government of Equatorial Guinea, completed the construction of a Methanol Plant at Punta Europa in May 2001. The plant consumes around 125 mmcfd of 1000 BTU quality gas to produce 19,000 bpd of methanol. The plant has a storage capacity of 900,000 bbls and the methanol is exported to worldwide markets via two dedicated 300,000 ton methanol carriers. The gas consumed by the methanol plant has eliminated the need to flare gas at the Punta Europa gas processing plant.

Power Generation Plant

In 1999 a 10.4 MW Turbo Gas Power Generation Plant, owned by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, was completed at Punta Europa to supply electricity to Bioko Island. The power plant uses around 3.0 - 3.5 mmcfd and is capable of expansion to meet future demand.

Zafiro Field

Of the gas produced on the FPU, 2.0 mmcfd is used for generating power and 0. 1 mmcfd is used to produce vapour for the onboard processing plant. A gas lift system has the capability of using 38 mmscfd. Also the Jade Platform has the capability of utilising 55 mmscfd gas for gas injection and gas lift. The utilisation of produced gas for gas lift and re-injection will substantially reduce the amount of gas flared in the field.