New fields continue to blossom onshore and offshore West Africa as operators deal with moving regulatory targets and tough new environmental conditions on new and existing fields. Nigeria, once the hot spot of West Africa, is an exception to the optimistic outlook by operators as a barrage of uncertainties keep oil and gas companies on the sideline waiting to see some of the confusion disappear. For example, operators still don't see how they can meet Nigeria's stated goal of eliminating all gas flaring next year. A recent World Bank partnership study said flaring cost the world USD40 billion in 2006, or about 5.5% of total world gas production. It also called Nigeria the second worst offender in the world, after Russia.
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