Chamwe Kaira
Services Pétroliers Schlumberger (SLB), a globally recognised oilfield services giant listed on the stock exchanges in New York, Paris, and London, is in the early stages of proposing the construction and operation of a Liquid Mud Plant (LMP) at Berth 8, situated within the Port of Walvis Bay, managed by the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport). SLB’s extensive operations span across 120 countries, as indicated on its official website.
The Liquid Mud Plant is a pivotal component in the management of various drilling fluids utilised in offshore oil rig operations. SLB envisions the LMP as a facility designed to receive, manipulate, produce, blend, store, and transfer the drilling compounds crucial for offshore oil rigs.
The core operation of the LMP involves the mixing of wet constituents on-site, storage, and eventual transfer onto a supply vessel. This vessel will subsequently transport the vital drilling compounds to oil rigs engaged in offshore drilling activities along the Namibian coast.
In adherence to environmental regulations, SLB has initiated the process to secure environmental clearance from the Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism. This clearance is contingent upon an approved environmental impact assessment (EIA) as stipulated by the Environmental Management Act.
The proposed LMP project is slated to be situated at SLB’s premises on Berth 8 within the Port of Walvis Bay, adjacent to the existing Brine Plant. Berth 8 enjoys close proximity to the newly developed container terminal area in the port.
SLB characterises itself as a global technology company dedicated to advancing energy innovation for a sustainable planet. Operating in over 100 countries and with a workforce representing a diverse array of nationalities, the company focuses on innovations within the oil and gas sector, the widespread implementation of digital solutions, efforts to decarbonize industries, and the development and scaling of new energy systems to expedite the global energy transition.
SLB stands as both the world’s largest offshore drilling company and the largest offshore drilling contractor in terms of revenue. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris, the London Stock Exchange, and the SIX Swiss Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Houston, Texas, USA.
