Besides the logistical challenges that explorers in the region are set to face, a number of technical obstacles are expected to continue to hinder operational efficiency.

One such challenge pertains to measuring gas flow. Fortunately, global equipment manufacturers Krohne believe they have found a solution to this problem with their introduction of the Altosonic gas meter. Although gas meters are traditionally associated with downstream aspects of the business, the Altosonic gas meter provides solutions for upstream explorers. "Drilling is so expensive nowadays that even the big oil companies, such as Statoil and Shell, have started sharing costs on platforms. Since on the platform itself the product is transferred from one company to another, we are now also selling meters on the drilling platforms. Seeing the opportunity in the upstream market, we have started selling our meters to explorers in East Africa," said Jan Drenthen, director of Krohne.

rovuma krohne

Krohne Altosonic V12 is an innovative solution for gas and steam measurements, with superior performance.

The Altosonic meter utilizes state-of-the-art technology that is able to detect and take into account any disturbances when measuring gas flow. The product provides explorers with a wide array of benefits, the most important being that it could enable explorers to save millions.

"If you consider how much gas goes through the meter every year, just 0.1% of additional uncertainly can leave you millions of dollars in deficit. For instance, a 12-inch meter, operated at a pressure of 75 bar, could potentially save a company about $1.3 million (some 10 million Rand) per year. The price of the ultrasonic meter itself, between $30,000 and $40,000, is absolutely irrelevant compared to that; your payback time is within days or weeks," explained Drenthen.

In addition to equipment providers, power companies like Aggreko are also looking to join the fray. With recent experience working with mining giant Vale in Mozambique, the South African energy producer is aiming to offer its services to gas explorers. Speaking of its recent experience, Martin Foster, head of local business SEA-YP for Aggreko, said, "Our local centers are able to cater to both upstream and downstream users. In the Middle East, Aggreko supplies a lot of power to the exploration fields of companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton. We do this in remote locations that do not have reliable grid power, a scenario that is particularly applicable to certain parts of Africa. Downstream, we work a lot with refineries, typically when they want to keep parts of their plants running during shutdowns and planned maintenance."

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