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2 KM BENEATH THE RIVER NIGER

OB3 River Niger Crossing.

APRIL 2026

PCE executed the River Niger HDD crossing on the OB3 Gas Pipeline between Ndoni in Rivers State and Aboh in Delta State. The crossing combined a 48-inch pipeline, approximately 2 km of HDD and complex sand, gravel and rock strata.

Pipeline Diameter48 inches
Crossing Length2,000 metres
Crossing Depth52 metres
Completed28 April 2026
THE CHALLENGE

A critical bottleneck on a 130 km gas pipeline.

The wider OB3 project comprises a 48/36-inch, 130 km trunk gas pipeline from Obiafu/Obrikom in Rivers State to the Oben node at Ijomi, Oghara, Delta State.

Its River Niger HDD crossing had remained incomplete following previous specialist attempts, delaying connection and commissioning of the wider project.

Following PCE's performance on the AKK River Niger crossing, NGIC entrusted PCE with the OB3 crossing package.

Facility capacity of the wider OB3 project
THE ENGINEERING RESPONSE

Dual-rig execution for complex geology.

PCE's crossing method included:

The project utilised the GS-12000L with 1,000+ tonnes pulling capability and the GD-5000L with 500 tonnes pulling capability.

  • Dual-rig intersecting pilot-hole technology
  • Dual-rig synchronous reaming
  • A self-developed drilling-fluid formula
  • High-capacity HDD equipment
  • Specialist guidance and field coordination
THE RESULT

The OB3 River Niger crossing: completed.

PCE completed the 2,000-metre, 48-inch HDD crossing between KP15 and KP17, from Ndoni in Rivers State to Aboh in Delta State.

Work began on 6 October 2025 and was completed on 28 April 2026.

2,000 mCompleted crossing