Relevant Experience (Energy & Projects)

Our experience in the Nigerian Oil & Gas sector is vast and varied. We have advised operators, contractors, banks and other financial institutions on several projects and transactions in the Nigerian oil and gas sector

EXAMPLES OF REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRM* 

• Advising on the $785 Million Oso Field Development Project jointly owned by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and partly financed by equity from the sponsors, and debt capital from international institutions, such as, the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), US Export Import Bank, Japan Export Import Bank and the European Investment Bank.

• Advising and negotiating the project financing, documentation and designing of the investment vehicle of the US$810million Oso-NGL Project, a gas utilisation project, which was sequel to the Oso-Field Development Project, and partly financed by equity from the sponsors and debt capital by a number of institutional investors in the United States and Europe.

• Advising the Norwegian Exploration & Production Company, Statoil, in respect of several Production Sharing Contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and assisting with the negotiation.

• Advising an international oil company in its bid for an oil block in the Nigeria/Sao Tome and Principe JDZ 2003 Licensing Round and conducting a detailed analysis of the Treaty and the petroleum, fiscal and contractual regime.

• Advising Sonatrach, the Algerian state oil company in connection with its bid for an oil block in the 2005 Licensing Round and providing advice on the bidding regulations as well as detailed analysis of the petroleum, fiscal and contractual regime.

• In collaboration with lawyers in a UK law firm, acting for and advising a group of International Banks on aspects of the financing of the Eleme Petrochemical Plant.

• Advising Statoil on the establishment of several subsidiary companies in Nigeria, including processing and obtaining of all pre-investment and regulatory approvals.

• Advising Statoil on the Production Sharing Contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

• Advising and assisting Consolidated Petroleum PTY, a South African Company on the farm-in arrangements into a marginal field including the drafting and review of the transaction documents including the Purchase Agreement, Farm-in Agreement, Joint Operating Agreement and the Deed of Assignment.

• Advising Hudson Petroleum in its bid for an oil block in the 2005 Licensing Round and assisting with the drafting and negotiation of the preliminary agreements including MOUs and Heads of Agreement.

• Representing Tenneco Oil in the disposal of its Nigerian oil and gas assets to British Gas.

• Advising Skye Bank Plc a USD75million syndicated petroleum products receivables pre-financing facility.

• Advising on several acquisitions and mergers, involving oil service companies, including the acquisition by Baker Hughes of a minority interest in a Nigerian Oil Service Company.

• Advising Baker Hughes on all legal aspects of the construction and development of a major facility in Port Harcourt, from negotiation of the long lease for the property to negotiating and rendering advise on the construction contract, advising on town planning regulatory issues as well as environmental issues, and undertaking the registration and perfection of the long lease.

• Advising TABA Nigeria Limited in respect of an Engineering Procurement and Construction contract with NNPC relating to a power plant and advising and assisting with the structuring and documentation of the various subcontracting and the financing arrangements.

• Advising and assisting Parker Drilling in the negotiation and documentation of various support services agreements relating to drilling operations in Nigeria.

• Advising and assisting Parker Drilling in the processing of various regulatory approvals and permits relating to drilling operations in Nigeria.

• Advising DWC Drilling on a number of drilling contracts with operators in the Nigerian oil and gas Industry and assisting with the negotiation.

• Advising and assisting Parker Drilling and its Nigerian affiliate on the licensing and flag registration of their vessels in Nigeria and compliance with the Cabotage Laws and Regulations

• Advising a US Oil Service Company on the establishment of wholly owned subsidiary in Nigeria - KDN Drilling Ltd., and assisting in obtaining all pre-investment and regulatory approvals.

• Advising and assisting oil and gas operators and contractors on various procurement contracts such as drilling contracts, drilling services contracts, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, vessel charter parties, helicopter service contracts and several other procurement contracts.

• Advising and assisting operators and contractors on a variety of employment and labour issues in connection with oil and gas operations.

• Analysing and providing legal opinions in respect of matters relating to Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs).

• Analysing and providing legal opinions on various issues arising in the course of Petroleum Operations.

• Analysing and providing legal opinions in respect of matters relating to Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs).

• Analysing and providing legal opinions on tax issues and fiscal matters relating to oil & gas projects and petroleum operations.

• Advising and assisting operators and contractors on community issues in the Nigeria Delta Area.

* Includes matters handled by members of Gbenga Biobaku & Co. prior to joining the Firm.