By Yunus Yusuf
A wellhead engineer, Mr Ikechukwu Okonkwo, says indigenous engineering innovations are helping to reduce operational downtime, lower costs and improve efficiency across the oil and gas industry.
Okonkwo, Head, Wellhead Department, Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
He said the increasing adoption of locally developed technologies and engineering solutions was enabling operators to improve productivity, reduce reliance on imported equipment and strengthen local content development.
According to him, Alfa Designs has established a fully equipped engineering workshop where advanced oil and gas equipment is designed, assembled and maintained locally.
He identified the company’s Smart Control Unit, an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled embedded system for remote monitoring and control of oil and gas facilities, as one of its flagship innovations.
Okonkwo said the system controlled safety valves and protected flow lines from operational failures while reducing environmental risks associated with oil and gas operations.
“The Smart Control Unit was designed, assembled and patented by Alfa Designs, making it one of our major indigenous engineering achievements,” he said.
He said the company also operated advanced conventional and computer-controlled machining equipment capable of manufacturing precision-engineered replacement components directly from engineering drawings.
According to him, the facility can produce virtually any machined metal component that does not require casting, significantly reducing dependence on imported spare parts.
He added that locally manufactured replacement parts enabled operators to minimise equipment downtime, reduce maintenance costs and improve operational efficiency.
Okonkwo said the Smart Control Unit was developed in response to recurring pipeline failures and crude oil spills.
He said the technology improved pipeline safety, minimised crude oil losses, reduced environmental pollution and lowered the risk of pipeline explosions.
On energy transition, Okonkwo said the company had developed a customised Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) generator that operated entirely on natural gas as a cheaper alternative to diesel-powered generators.
He said hospitals, hotels, factories and other businesses could cut fuel expenses by more than 60 per cent, depending on consumption levels.
The engineer added that the company also supplied, installed and maintained CNG conversion kits for vehicles and motorcycles.
He noted that wider adoption of CNG woukd reduce fuel costs while supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.
Okonkwo said Alfa Designs also offered computer-aided engineering design services using AutoCAD technology, enabling customers to convert engineering concepts into detailed fabrication drawings.
He added that the company operated advanced Computer Tomography (CT) scanning equipment capable of producing three-dimensional images of engineering components for reverse engineering and industrial analysis.
According to him, the technology also supports reservoir studies by analysing rock samples to determine porosity and permeability without damaging the samples.
“This enables companies to carry out critical engineering analysis locally instead of sending samples abroad, thereby reducing costs, saving time and strengthening Nigeria’s technical capacity,” he said.
Okonkwo reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the local content policy through indigenous technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering research and innovative energy solutions.
Also, the Business Development Manager of Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., Miss Ugochi Onyeabor, said the company had introduced the Genesis New Vision (GNV) mobile application to promote healthy living, environmental sustainability, innovation and community development.
Onyeabor said the application provided an alternative social networking platform designed to encourage positive social impact.
She said the app featured dedicated sections on health, environment, innovation, charity and social networking.
She stressed, “Users can monitor fitness activities, participate in wellness challenges, report environmental concerns, showcase innovative ideas and support verified fundraising campaigns.
She added that the platform also featured a “Free Shop”, where users could donate clothing, food and household items to others at no cost.
Onyeabor said Genesis New Vision was available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and remained free for users.
She said the application reflected the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to promote healthier lifestyles, environmental responsibility, innovation and community development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa