EKET (AKWA IBOM) - The NNPC says the nation produced 204.03 billion standard cubic feet of gas in May this year.

According to the latest edition of the NNPC quarterly report of its upstream activities, made available to newsmen in Eket in Akwa Ibom yesterday, 154.02 billion standard cubic feet of the production was utilised by the joint venture companies.

It said that 50 billion cubic feet of the gas was flared during the month, adding that about 25 per cent of associated gas from crude oil production was currently being flared in the country.

The report also said that 99,683 metric tonnes of Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) was produced by both the Joint Venture and Production Sharing Companies in the oil and gas sectors in May.

It said that Texaco flared 99.42 per cent of its total associated gas and was followed by Chevron, which flared 42 per cent, while Mobil Producing flared 35 per cent.

According to the report, Mobil Producing Nigeria commenced operations in the $1.3 billion East Area Natural Gas to Liquids projects last month and the project is expected to further reduce gas flaring and improve oil recovery at the Qua Iboe oil fields.

“Elf flares the least quantity of its associated gas at 11.10 per cent while Shell Petroleum Development Company flares 15.98 per cent,’’ the report said.

The report said that total crude oil and condensates produced during the month was 64.28 million barrels, averaging 2.07 million barrels per day produced by the Joint Venture Companies, Production Sharing Contracts and Marginal Oil Field Operators.

Shell led the production volume in the Joint Venture category during the month with 11.6 million barrels and was followed by Chevron with 10.61 million barrels while Mobil Producing produced 10.31 million barrels of crude oil.

Texaco produced the least volume of 620,000 barrels.

The report said that a total of 65.24 million barrels of crude oil and condensates was lifted for export and domestic refining for local consumption during the month.