A major milestone was achieved yesterday as the jacket for the Nigeria HI Project, contracted by Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as COOEC), was completed at the company’s Tianjin Intelligent Manufacturing Base—China’s first smart factory for offshore oil and gas equipment. The structure, now ready for shipment to Nigeria, marks a leap from design to reality and injects new momentum into energy cooperation between China and Nigeria.

**Boosting Nigeria’s LNG Capacity by 35%** The HI Project, COOEC’s first flagship collaboration with Shell as the main contractor, encompasses design, procurement, and construction. Located in the OML144 block of the Niger Delta’s southern waters, 50 km offshore at a depth of 100 meters, the project features a four-deck topside module and a four-legged jacket, powered by a hybrid "wind-solar" energy system. Upon completion, it will supply 350 million cubic feet of natural gas daily to Nigeria’s LNG Train 7 expansion, increasing the country’s LNG production capacity by 35%. This advancement will significantly bolster Nigeria’s energy sector, enhancing its global market position and economic benefits.

**The Jacket: A Foundation for Offshore Development** The jacket, a foundational structure in offshore oil and gas projects, acts as a "base" to support massive platforms above water. The HI Project’s jacket weighs approximately 1,700 tons—equivalent to over 1,300 cars—and exemplifies complex, large-scale engineering with stringent technical demands.

Li Changlong, the project’s construction manager, highlighted the team’s precision: "At the Tianjin base, we optimized every process, achieving a welding pass rate exceeding 99.7%. Using 4D visualization, we monitored progress and quality in real time, swiftly addressing potential issues."

**From Traditional to Smart Manufacturing** Spanning 575,000 square meters, COOEC’s Tianjin base houses four smart centers, 16 assembly stations, and a deep-water dock. It specializes in high-end equipment like offshore platforms and LNG modules. By integrating AI, digital tools, and 600+ advanced devices, the facility has elevated production efficiency by 40% compared to traditional methods while improving quality.

In the prefabrication workshop, a 10-ton steel plate can be processed into customized parts in just 20 minutes, with robotic welders maintaining precision within 2 mm. Currently, 20 modules across eight projects are under simultaneous construction.

**Expanding China’s Global Energy Footprint** COOEC Vice President Zhang Haitao noted the company’s growing international portfolio, including projects like Brunei Shell Petroleum, Canada LNG, and the Penguin FPSO. In 2024, COOEC renewed its Enterprise Framework Agreement (EFA) with Shell. Elie Daou, Shell Nigeria’s Gas Director, praised COOEC’s professionalism and teamwork, expressing confidence in future collaborations.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan, COOEC is advancing its global strategy, transitioning from subcontractor to EPC leader. By investing in R&D and partnering with industry leaders, it aims to deliver "China Solutions" and "China Standards" worldwide, creating shared economic opportunities.