Heirs Energies JV launches digital operations centre for Nigeria’s OML 17

Nigeria’s Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture (JV) has launched an Integrated Operations Monitoring Centre (IOMC), a digital control centre developed with Redtech, the technology arm of Heirs Holdings.

The facility integrates production monitoring, asset performance, security surveillance, hydrocarbon evacuation and operational data into a single platform to improve decision-making, coordination and operational efficiency across OML 17, an onshore oil mining licence in Nigeria.

Heirs Energies, which describes itself as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing indigenous integrated energy companies, is the operator of OML 17 with a 45% stake in the JV with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which holds a 55% stake.

Since assuming operatorship of OML 17 in 2021, Heirs Energies has transformed one of Nigeria’s largest onshore assets through its Brownfield Excellence strategy, increasing oil production to over 50,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) while expanding domestic gas supply to over 135mn standard cubic feet (mmcf) per day, equivalent to about 3.8mn cubic metres (mcm) per day.

The launch of the IOMC marks a significant milestone in the OML 17 JV’s commitment to operational excellence, Heirs Energies said in a press release on June 29. The IOMC is intended to enhance the management and optimisation of the JV's upstream operations.

“The future of upstream operations will be driven by data, technology and intelligent decision-making,” Heirs Energies CEO Osa Igiehon said at the commissioning ceremony. “The Integrated Operations Monitoring Centre provides us with a real-time operational view of our assets, enabling quicker decisions, improved collaboration and enhanced operational efficiency. It reinforces our commitment to deploying innovation to deliver safer, smarter and more resilient operations across OML 17.”

The IOMC combines operational data into a single platform to improve production, asset management and risk control at the JV’s remote assets. Furthermore, the centre is designed to support future technologies, including predictive analytics, remote operations, AI-enabled decision support and advanced production optimisation.

According to Redtech managing director and CEO Emmanuel Ojo, the project demonstrates the value of leveraging technology to solve complex operational challenges.

“At Redtech, we believe technology should simplify operations, improve decision-making and create measurable business value. The IOMC demonstrates what is possible when digital innovation is applied to industrial operations,” Ojo said.

“Working alongside Heirs Energies, we have delivered a platform that enables connected operations, intelligent monitoring and faster operational response. This is another example of how technology can unlock greater efficiency and performance across Africa’s energy sector.”

Heirs Energies says it contributes approximately 5% of Nigeria’s crude oil production and 5% of the country’s domestic gas supply, playing a critical role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and supporting industrial and economic growth.

According to the company, the addition of the IOMC represents the next stage in the OML 17 JV’s modernisation programme, placing digital technology at the centre of its field operations and supporting safer, more efficient and technology-driven energy production.