San Leon Energy provide an update on the new alternative crude oil evacuation and storage system ("ACOES") on OML 18, onshore Nigeria. ACOES is being constructed for the purpose of transporting, storing and evacuating crude oil from the OML 18 export pipeline running from within the OML 18 acreage and down to the open sea to a dedicated Floating Storage and Offloading vessel named ELI Akaso.

The ELI Akaso is expected to arrive shortly into Bonny port. Energy Link Infrastructure (Malta) Limited ("ELI", the third-party provider of ACOES) has informed Eroton, the operator of OML 18, that the following activity is expected.

All government and regulatory approvals for project construction have been received;

• February 2020: site mobilisation;
• March 2020: installation and completion of the Cawthorne 2 & 3 pig launcher and receiver platforms; and
• May 2020: completion of pipe laying, and commissioning of ACOES.

Oisin Fanning, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The operation of ACOES is expected to be a major catalyst for the success of OML 18. We have long described the challenges to pipeline losses and downtime on the existing NCTL pipeline and ACOES is expected to reduce both significantly."

Link to San Leon Nigeria country profile