Emmanuel Akpan

Provide process safety and technical support to oil & gas assets in the North Sea, North America, Australia, and West Africa, ensuring safe and efficient operations. Lead unit health monitoring and risk reviews with actionable recommendations. Key achievements:

• Operational Integrity Improvements: Lead Process Engineer for the Espoir Ivoirien FPSO (Ivory Coast) - ensured operational efficiency and process safety integrity. Led multiple optimization projects that enhanced asset reliability and safety standards through process adjustments and facility upgrades.
• Risk Monitoring Systems: Implemented a comprehensive asset surveillance and monitoring system for a Canadian Natural Resources (CNRL) asset, introducing real-time data visualization and proactive risk flagging. This improved early detection of operational issues, enhancing safety and reliability across the facility.
• Shutdown and Safety Planning: Delivered gate-specific shutdown deliverables (procedures, checklists) with strict adherence to safety protocols. Facilitated seamless execution of major turnarounds with zero incidents, ensuring all work was compliant with company and regulatory safety requirements.
• Decommissioning Safety Oversight: Oversaw process engineering aspects of the Northern Endeavour FPSO decommissioning (Australia) - conducted thorough process safety reviews and HAZOP studies to ensure safe isolation and dismantling of systems. Similarly provided technical support for the Hewett Platform decommissioning (Southern North Sea), developing and reviewing technical documents and process safety analyses to meet UK HSE standards during asset retirement.
• Facility Expansion (Risk Management): Supported a Brownfield expansion project in North America (Point Energy Partners) by assessing modifications to increase produced water and oil handling capacity by 20%. Ensured all design changes underwent proper risk assessments and safety reviews, resulting in a successful capacity upgrade with no safety incidents.
• Fire Safety System Enhancement: Led a reliability optimization of the Irish Sea Pioneer jack-up rigs service and firewater pump systems in the Northeast Atlantic. Through detailed failure analysis and targeted improvements, increased equipment uptime by 25% and ensured the firewater system met all safety performance criteria for emergency response.

Contributed to process design optimization and reliability improvement for ExxonMobils Nigeria production operations. Ensured all engineering modifications complied with technical standards and improved the safety and uptime of facilities. Key accomplishments:

• Design Safety Reviews: Conducted detailed design reviews for facility upgrade projects, ensuring compliance with industry codes (API, ASME) and ExxonMobils safety criteria. Provided critical design decisions that improved the reliability and safety of new installations in offshore fields.
• Risk Assessment Coordination: Facilitated HAZOP studies, risk assessments, and readiness reviews for various projects (e.g., compressor upgrades, pipeline modifications). Coordinated multi-discipline teams to identify potential hazards and failure modes, and recommended robust mitigation measures. This proactive approach ensured that projects were safely executed and all risks were ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) before startup.
• Production System Optimization: Optimized production systems with an eye on safety margins - for instance, led a simulation study to adjust the Ubit pipeline high-high pressure shutdown set point, enabling additional wells to flow without compromising pipeline integrity. This increased throughput by an estimated 3, 000 BOPD safely, by carefully balancing pressure limits and installing improved safeguards.
• Operational Troubleshooting: Performed a choke sizing and set-point analysis on a gas-lift manifold to prevent pressure trips. Advised operations on optimal choke settings which eliminated frequent high-pressure shut-ins, leading to the safe restoration of ~4, 000 BOPD from previously shut-in wells.
• Flare & Emissions Management: Stewarded flare management initiatives to minimize gas flaring across production facilities. Monitored flaring volumes, diagnosed causes of excess flaring, and worked with operations to adjust processes, resulting in reduced flare events (saving on regulatory flare fees) while maintaining oil and NGL output. Ensured flaring stayed within allowable environmental limits, contributing to ExxonMobils emissions reduction goals.
• Decommissioning & ARO Planning: Led the local team in updating the Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) estimates for several facilities, collaborating with reservoir, facilities, and finance groups. Delivered revised decommissioning cost estimates ahead of schedule (saving 100 man hours) and in compliance with global ExxonMobil guidelines - demonstrating strong project management and understanding of end-of-life safety and environmental requirements. Also reviewed an abandonment plan for a joint venture field (Ebok), providing recommendations that protected ExxonMobils interests and ensured alignment with safety and environmental regulations for well abandonment.
• Reliability Improvements: Monitored reliability data for upstream assets and facilitated Root Cause Analysis (RCA) sessions for critical equipment failures (pumps, compressors). Developed action plans from these RCAs that improved equipment reliability and increased overall asset uptime by 9% in one year. Many of these actions involved enhancing maintenance practices and making minor engineering changes to eliminate recurrent issues, thereby improving safety by reducing unplanned breakdowns and potential incidents.

Supported four offshore production platforms in Nigerias West Area (15 wellhead platforms, ~85, 000 BOPD combined) with a focus on process safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Key contributions:

• Project Risk Management: Developed scopes and technical specifications for new capital projects and provided engineering support through design, implementation, and commissioning. Emphasized risk mitigation in project planning. Led the development of construction work packages for complex field modifications, integrating Safety in Operations (SIMOPS) plans to maintain strict safety controls during simultaneous operations.
• Safe Shutdowns & Startups: Supported planning and coordination of major facility shutdowns and startups, ensuring minimal downtime and no accidents. Adhered to stringent safety and regulatory requirements by enforcing permit-to-work systems, lockout/tagout, and pre-startup safety reviews. This meticulous planning improved asset reliability by 18% while protecting personnel.
• Management of Change (MOC): Stewarded the MOC process for the West Area assets, achieving 100% compliance with ExxonMobils OIMS (Operations Integrity Management System) requirements. Regularly led HAZOP and risk assessment workshops with multidisciplinary teams for any proposed facility changes, ensuring all hazards were identified and mitigated prior to implementation.
• Commissioning & Emergency Preparedness: Led commissioning and startup activities for new well hookups and platform upgrades, including detailed system walk-downs, procedure reviews, and risk management for high-pressure systems. Conducted emergency response drills and scenario planning as the acting offshore operations supervisor, thereby reinforcing team readiness and safety awareness.
• Reliability & Environmental Initiatives: Implemented improvements that boosted operational reliability and environmental compliance. Stewarded the replacement of 44, 000 liters of glycol in a gas dehydration unit on the Ekpe platform, which eliminated chronic issues (clogged seal gas filters) and improved system uptime. Also mentored operations personnel on optimizing process parameters to sustain production with reduced flaring and emissions, balancing output with environmental responsibilities.

Led process engineering and asset integrity efforts for the Yoho offshore production complex (OML 104) comprising a central production platform with 3 wellhead platforms and a Floating Storage & Offloading (FSO) vessel. Key achievements:
• Asset Integrity & Life Extension: Led the Yoho FSO Boiler Inspection and Maintenance project, a critical integrity initiative that extended the FSOs service life by 10 years. Executed comprehensive inspections and repairs of steam boilers in compliance with ExxonMobil integrity standards and ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) class requirements, ensuring continued safe operations and future production (44 MMbbl) without downtime. The project was delivered on schedule and under budget ($462k).
• Process Optimization with Safety Gains: Conducted simulation studies and provided technical leadership for the Yoho production optimization project - safely brought online 5 previously shut-in wells by recalibrating facility set points and debottlenecking constraints. Achieved a ~10, 000 BOPD production increase (adding ~$54 million in annual revenue) while maintaining all operations within safe operating limits through careful risk evaluation and procedural controls.
• Regulatory Compliance & Interface: Acted as the liaison with regulatory bodies and JV partners to ensure all Yoho field activities met or exceeded local and international HSE regulations. Frequently interfaced with NUPRC inspectors and partner representatives to facilitate audits, incident reporting, and approvals for technical changes. Through these efforts, maintained a 100% compliance record for the asset and smooth regulatory approvals for new projects.
• Hazard Mitigation & Loss Prevention: Led a risk assessment update for continued operation of aging steam boilers on the FSO after integrity issues were found. Developed a risk mitigation plan (enhanced inspection frequency, engineering safeguards) and obtained management approval for continued service. Successfully closed out three Category-2 risk items, substantially improving safety conditions on the vessel and preventing an estimated $4.6 million in potential production loss from unscheduled outages.
• Operational Troubleshooting: Investigated and resolved critical process issues impacting safety and efficiency. For example, led a task force to diagnose excessive boiler feed water consumption and discovered system leaks; implemented repairs and operating changes that reduced feed water use by ~23%, thus ensuring stable boiler operation and preventing potential water shortfall during operations. Also coordinated chemical cleaning of a fouled heat exchanger and WHRU on the Yoho FPSO, restoring heat transfer efficiency and enabling the safe opening of previously shut-in, high-emulsion wells.
• Environmental Protection: Upgraded the Yoho produced water treatment system (WEMCO depurator) to improve removal of oil from discharged water. This revamp led to a marked reduction in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in overboard water, improving environmental compliance and reducing the facilitys ecological impact. Additionally, managed the replacement of the FSOs power synchronization control panel, eliminating recurring power changeover issues and thereby enhancing both safety (preventing blackouts) and saving ~$100k/year in maintenance costs.
• Project Execution & Handover: Oversaw multiple brownfield projects from design through execution on the Yoho facilities, ensuring all construction and installation work adhered to strict safety plans (SIMOPS). Led on-site construction teams, supervised contractor work permits, and ensured no incidents during high-risk construction activities. Upon completion, managed system commissioning, completions, and handover to operations, verifying that all systems met safety and performance criteria and that all documentation and punch lists were closed.

• Developed and maintained process engineering documentation including process flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams, operating manuals, and standard operating procedures for the UPS/Osioka, Utorogu, Ughelli east and west LACT Unit project for OML 30 and 34 assets.
• Coordinated with the construction team to ensure that the process equipment and systems were installed and commissioned in accordance with the design specifications.
• Evaluated/ revied work performed by the Contractor and sub-contractors to ensure that the work is being executed in accordance with Company specifications, standards, and regulatory requirements including review of discipline design drawings and documents.
• Carry out equipment capacity checks along flow path; Separators, PSVs, Pumps, Flowlines, Compressors
• Conducted training sessions for the operations team to ensure that they understood the process design and were able to operate the equipment safely and efficiently.
• Periodic interface with various departments for HAZOPS/Risk Assessment exercises with potential for field modifications

Operations Engineer Trainee in an Early Production Facility (EPF) with a capacity of 10, 000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 70 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas.
• Provided support in the daily operations of oil and gas processing, focusing on production optimization, equipment maintenance, and safety compliance.
• Assisted in monitoring real-time production data, ensuring optimal performance of the facility by adjusting operating parameters to maximize oil and gas output. Contributed to daily production meetings and helped develop strategies for enhancing efficiency.
• Supported the operations team in maintaining equipment integrity, including separators, compressors, and gas dehydration units. Conducted routine inspections and troubleshooting of production equipment, working closely with senior engineers to minimize downtime and prevent equipment failures.
• Participated in the implementation of health, safety, and environmental (HSE) procedures, ensuring compliance with industry standards and company policies. Actively contributed to safety drills and supported the enforcement of operational safety standards.
• Gained hands-on experience with facility startup and shutdown procedures, assisting in the commissioning of various production systems. Worked under the supervision of senior engineers to safely bring the facility online, ensuring smooth production operations.
• Collected and analyzed operational data to provide insights into production trends. Assisted in preparing reports on production performance and equipment efficiency for management review.

• Collaborated with senior engineers to gain expertise in the operation and maintenance of various turbomachinery - gas turbines and compressors.
• Assisted in planning and executing turnaround maintenance activities for critical turbomachinery, ensuring timely and budget-compliant completion
of all tasks.
• Contributed to the development and implementation of maintenance procedures and protocols to enhance the performance and reliability of
turbomachinery systems.
• Supported the analysis of equipment failures and participated in root cause investigations to identify and resolve underlying issues.
• Engaged in training sessions and workshops to enhance knowledge and skills in turbomachinery maintenance and repair.
• Managed the pressurization and organization of turbine spare parts in the QIT central warehouse, ensuring proper labeling, storage, and
maintenance to prevent damage.