Pipelines Manager At Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited

Department: Production Operations

Job Summary

• The Pipelines Manager for OML 30 is responsible for the end-to-end management of crude oil and gas pipeline systems connecting flow stations, manifolds, and export terminals (e.g., Trans Forcados Pipeline system or alternative evacuation routes).
• The role ensures asset integrity, flow assurance, production uptime, and security of pipeline infrastructure within a high-risk Niger Delta operating environment.
• This position plays a critical role in sustaining production evacuation, minimizing deferments, and managing stakeholder relationships across host communities and regulatory agencies.
• This position reports to the GM Production Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Pipeline Operations & Production Evacuation:

• Oversee crude oil evacuation from OML 30 flow stations to export systems (e.g., TFP or barging alternatives).
• Ensure uninterrupted pipeline operations to meet production targets.
• Monitor pressures, throughput, and system bottlenecks using SCADA and field data.
• Manage pipeline shutdowns, start-ups, and pigging schedules to optimize flow.

Pipeline Integrity Management (Aging Assets Focus):

• Develop and execute integrity programs for aging pipelines typical of OML 30 infrastructure.

Conduct:

• Inline inspections (ILI)
• Corrosion monitoring and control (CP systems)
• Ultrasonic testing and thickness measurements
• Maintain and update the Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS).

Security, Surveillance & Loss Prevention (Critical Priority):

Design and implement robust pipeline surveillance systems to combat:

• Illegal bunkering
• Pipeline vandalism
• Sabotage

Coordinate with:

• Host community surveillance teams
• Government security agencies (NSCDC, Military JTF)
• Develop early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms for pipeline breaches.
• Track and reduce production losses due to theft and leaks.

Alternative Evacuation & Contingency Planning:

Manage and optimize alternative crude evacuation strategies such as:

• Barging operations
• Temporary storage solutions
• Develop contingency plans for frequent outages of export pipelines (e.g., TFP disruptions).
• Ensure minimal production deferment during export system downtimes.

Host Community Engagement:

• Work closely with Community Relations teams to maintain peaceful operations along pipeline ROWs.
• Support community surveillance programs and conflict resolution.
• Participate in stakeholder engagement to prevent disruptions.

Projects & Rehabilitation:

• Lead pipeline replacement, repair, and upgrade projects.
• Drive brownfield modifications to improve reliability and capacity.
• Ensure compliance with Nigerian Content Development (NCDMB) requirements.

HSSE & Spill Management:

• Enforce strict HSSE standards in pipeline operations.

Ensure compliance with:

• NUPRC regulations
• NOSDRA spill reporting and management requirements
• Lead oil spill response, containment, and remediation efforts.
• Conduct risk assessments (HAZOP/HAZID) for pipeline operations.

Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure full compliance with:

• Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)
• NMDPRA and NUPRC requirements
• Prepare and submit operational reports, incident reports, and audit documentation.

Team Leadership:

• Lead pipeline engineers, operators, technicians, and surveillance teams.
• Build strong field execution capability across multiple locations in OML 30.
• Promote safety culture and operational discipline.

Budget & Cost Control:

Manage OPEX budgets related to:

• Pipeline repairs
• Surveillance contracts
• Integrity programs
• Optimize cost of evacuation (pipeline vs barging economics).
• Reduce losses impacting revenue.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production evacuation uptime (%)
• Reduction in crude losses (theft/spills)
• Pipeline availability and reliability
• Spill frequency and response time
• Community-related downtime incidents
• Maintenance and inspection compliance rates

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Petroleum, or Civil Engineering.
• COREN registration strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 12 - 15 years in pipeline operations within upstream oil & gas.
• Strong experience in Niger Delta onshore assets (critical).

Proven track record managing:

• Crude evacuation systems
• Pipeline security challenges
• Community-interface operations

Technical Skills:

Deep expertise in:

• Pipeline integrity management (corrosion, pigging, inspection)
• Flow assurance and crude evacuation logistics
• SCADA systems and leak detection
• Experience with Trans Forcados or similar export systems is an advantage.

Core Competencies (OML 30 Critical Success Factors):

• Crisis and incident management
• Security risk mitigation
• Community engagement and negotiation
• Production optimization under constraints
• Decision-making in high-uncertainty environments

Working Conditions:

• Field-intensive role across multiple OML 30 locations.

High exposure to:

• Security risks
• Swamp and difficult terrains
• On-call availability for emergency response (24/7 situations).

Role Context (OML 30 Reality):

• Export pipeline disruptions directly impact production revenue.
• High incidence of sabotage requires constant vigilance.
• Aging infrastructure demands proactive integrity management.
• Strong community relations are essential for uninterrupted operations.