Nigerian firms assisted Mobil in the training and development of local workers to serve the new East Area project in Nigeria.

The $3.5 billion (£2.72 billion) facility, which came on stream this month, comprises of an Additional Oil Recovery station housing a compression complex personnel livinq quarters and seven additional platforms.

According to Business Day, Mobil Producing managing director John Chaplin told attendees at the commissioning ceremony: "The new facilities can process up to 950 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, yielding up to 65,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids."

So too, he added that Nigerian firms had been instrumental in providing oil training courses for the local workforce, in addition to providing key logistical support.

Offshore Technology reports that ExxonMobil has a 51 per cent interest in the East Area project, which is managed as a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Mobil Producing is the only major oil firm operating completely offshore in Nigerian waters.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development