RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

NKPOLU OROWORUKWO PMB 5080, PORT HARCOURT

RIVERS STATE

A REPORT ON THE STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK

EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

PRESENTED BY

ANSA, JOHN OKON

DE.2010/0901

LEVEL 400

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, ENGINEERING

FACULTY

WITH

RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

RIVERS STATE SECRETATRIAT

Deptal. SIWES CO-ORDINATOR: ENGR. (MRS.) IKENYIRI, PATIENCE

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I deeply express my heartfelt thank you to the Almighty God for his infinite mercies and
underserved grace which have constituted a propulsive force in the path.

I would like to record my sincere gratitude to a veteran supervisor and wise counselor Engr. P. I.
George who added color to this report.

Finally, I appreciate the Head of Petroleum Engineering Department of the Ministry for making
my SIWES in the Ministry a success.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page……………………………………………………………………………… i

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………… ii

Table of Content…………………………………………………………………………. iii

Chapter One……………………………………………………………………………..… 1

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...…….1

1.0 The Establishment of Industrial Work Experience Scheme……………………..…..... 1

1.1 Objective of SIWES……………………………………………………..…...…1

Chapter Two………………………………………………………………………………..2

2.0 History of The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources…………………………….2

2.1 Responsibilities/Functions of the Ministry…………………………………..…2
2.2 Organization chart of the Ministry…………………………………………...…3

Chapter Three……………………………………………………………………………….4

Description of Attachment………………………………………………………………….4

3.0 History of Oil Exploration in Nigeria………………………………..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4

3.1 Establishment of Refineries in Nigeria……………………………………..…..4
3.2 Upstream Sector…………………………………………………………….…..5
Production of Crude Oil………………………………………………………...5
3.3 Downstream Sector……………………………………………………………..5
NNPC and Private Depots………………………………………………………6
Numbers of Terminals in Nigeria……………………………………………….6
Establishment of Filling Station………………………………………………...7
Major Marketers………………………………………………………………...7
Independent Marketers………………………………………………………….8

Chapter Four………………………………………………………………………………...9

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Impact of the Internship………………………………………………………………......9

4.0 Petroleum Products Monitoring and Distribution in the State………………………..9

Duties/Responsibilities………………………………………………………………..9
Challenges and Difficulties Encountered……………………………………………..9
Experience Gained…………………………………………………………………...10
4.1 Precision Measurement of Dispensing

Pump/Meter of Filling Station…………………………………………………...10

Duties/Responsibilities…………………………………………………………..10

Challenges and Difficulties Encountered………………………………………..11

Solution Proffered……………………………………………………………......11

Experience Gained……………………………………………………………….11

4.2 Checking and Controlling of Adulterated Petroleum Products……………....11

Duties/Responsibilities………………………………………………………11
Mechanism of the Densitometer……………………………………………...13
Challenges and Difficulties Encountered…………………………………….13
Solution Proffered……………………………………………………………13
Experience Gained……………………………………………………………14
5.0 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………14
References…………………………………………………………………………….15
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1…………………………………………………………………………………5
Table 2…………………………………………………………………………………6
Table 3………………………………………………………………………………...13

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL

WORK EXPERIENCE SCHME (SIWES)

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme was established by the Federal Government
through the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 to curb the challenges of lack of adequate
practical skills in Higher Institutions and industries.

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is part of the fulfillment for the
award of the Bachelor degree in the Higher Institution of learning, especially in the areas of
engineering studies.

It is a common practice in the university that students undergo the training in order to acquire the
relevant experience and the technical knowhow in their respective course of study. To acquire
such knowledge and experience, the students are attached to industries, firms or establishments
were they would be exposed, and be part of the working team of such organization.(Coordinator,
2014)

1.2OBJECTIVE OF SIWES

The essence of the attachment is to expose the student to work situations they would be faced
after graduation and eventually gain employment to work in any of the firm/industry.

The scheme exposes students to industry based skills necessary for the smooth transition from
class room to the world of work. It affords students of Higher Institution the opportunity of being
familiarized and exposed to the needed experience of handling machinery and equipment which
are usually not available in the Higher Institution.(Coordinator, 2014)

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CHAPTER TWO

2.1 HISTORY OF THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND

NATURAL RESOURCES
Rivers State earned the name “Treasure base” of the nation due to the abundance natural
resources of Oil and Gas. The natural resources – crude oil and natural gas was discovered in
Oloibiri town in the present day of Bayelsa State in 1956, and since then Nigeria economy has
depended solely on the crude oil.

However, for Rivers citizens to benefit from the largesse of the crude oil, and for the State to be
involved and be part of the Oil and Gas sector necessitated the creation of Petroleum Taskforce
in the military era. The Petroleum Taskforce is the organ responsible for monitoring the
distribution of petroleum products in the State to bring to a zero level the diversion of the
products meant for the State.

During the civilian dispensation, the then Governor, Dr. Peter Odili created the Bureau of Energy
and Natural Resources in 2003. The bureau is directly under the Governor’s office saddles with
the responsibilities of monitoring, checking and controlling petroleum associated activities in the
State.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources came into existence in 2007, and the essence is
for the Ministry to participate and be part of any matter related to Oil and Gas in the
State.(George, 2014)

2.2 RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTRY

i. Advice Government on development of energy recourses.

ii. Develop and efficient natural resources base for Rivers State, providing enabling
environment for sustainability of these natural resources.
iii. Create an environment for local participation in the Oil/Gas sector.
iv. Develop data bank on upstream and downstream petroleum activities in the State.

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 v. Develop an inventory for direct investment or partnership in both upstream and
downstream sectors and liaising with relevant agencies.

In order to achieve the above mentioned functions, the Ministry is divided into various
departments as follows:

1) Administration Department
2) Finance and Accounts Department
3) Conflict Resolution/Management Department
4) Planning Research and Statistic Department
5) Solid Minerals/Natural Resources Department
6) Gas Department and
7) Petroleum Department

2.3ORGANIZATION CHART OF THE MINISTRY

COMMISIONER

PERMANENT SECRETARY
ADMIN DEPT.

FINANCE DEPT.

PETROLEUM DEPT.
PRS DEPT.

CR/M DEPT.

GAS DEPT.

SM/NR DEPT.

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CHAPTER THREE

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHMENT

3.1 HISTORY OF OIL EXPLORATION IN NIGERIA

Oil exploration started in Nigeria in 1908 in a community known as Araromi in Ondo State by a
German company known as the “Nigerian Bitumen Cooperation.” In 1914, the First World War
halted the operation. After about 20 years, another company “British and Dutch Company” took
over the exploration for oil in Nigeria.

The Second World War interrupted the operation which was resumed after the Second World
War. In 1959, the sole concession rights over the whole country granted to SPDC was reviewed
and extended to companies of other nationalities in line with the policy of increasing the pace of
exploration while at the same time ensuring that the country was not toodependent on one
company or nation. The successes of SPDC encouraged other companies to join in the
exploration, and by 1961, Mobil, Agip, Safrap (now Total), Tenneco and Amoseas (now
Texaco/Chevron) had joined the explorers, for oil in the onshore and offshore area of Nigeria.

0il was first discovered in Nigeria in by SPDC 1956 in a community called Oloibiri. The first
offshore discovery of petroleum was by Gulf on the Okan structure of Bendel State (now Delta
State) in 1964 and many of the new comers also made significant discoveries. Today, licenses
have been granted to indigenous companies in the country to explore, produce and market
petroleum products.

In 1979, oil production increases to 2.4 million barrels per day. Nigeria joined the Organization
of Petroleum Export Country (OPEC) as its 11th member in 1971.(Oil Exploration in Nigeria,
2013)

3.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF REFINERIES IN NIGERIA

The discovery of crude oil in Nigeria necessitated the establishment of refineries to meet the
local consumption of the refined petroleum products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel,

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lubricating oil, etc. In order to meet up the incessant demand of the products, Nigeria has three
operational refineries with varying capacities.

Table 1.

NAME DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT CAPACITY

Port Harcourt refinery 1956 210,000bbl/d
Warri refinery 1975 125,000bbl/d
Kaduna refinery 1980 1000bbl/d

3.3 UPSTREAM SECTOR

The upstream sector is a term commonly used to refer to the searching for and the recovery and
production of crude oil and natural gas. The upstream sector is also known as the exploration and
production (E&P) sector.

 PRODUCTION OF CRUDE OIL

After the exploration phase, drilling of the well to produce the crude oil from the reservoir
commence. Upon completion of the drilling processes and installation of the production strings,
the oil well starts to produce via Christmas tree. The “Christmas Tree”, is a petroleum
terminology in the oil industry, consisting of several valves, pressure gauges, etc. It is mounted
on the well head before production starts.

3.4 DOWNSTREAM SECTOR

The downstream oil sector is a term commonly used to refer to the selling and distribution of
natural gas and products derived from crude oil such product include; lignified petrol, kerosene,
jet fuel, etc.

The downstream sector includes petroleum product distribution, retail outlets and natural gas
distribution companies.

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 NNPC AND PRIVATE DEPOTS

The refined or finished petroleum products are distributed through the depot to the filling
stations dealers for retailing to customers for commercial or domestic purposes. There are
two depots that exist in Rivers State, namely: NNPC and private depots.

i. Government (NNPC)depot – here the petroleum products are either refined at the
NNPC refinery or are solely imported from other countries and stored in a tank farm
at the NNPC depot for sales and distribution to the general public.
ii. Private depot – here the refined products are mainly imported from other countries
and stored in the tank farm of the firm. There are several private depots that exist in
Rivers State such as:
 Oando
 Conoil
 Tonimas
 Petrostar
 Dozzy oil and gas
 Aiteo
 Delmer marine
 Sea Petroleum oil and gas

 NUMBERS OF TERMINALS IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria, there are six terminals where produced crude oil is being exported out of the country,
namely:

Table 2.

Terminal Company State

Forcado SPDC Warri (Delta)
Bonny SPDC Bonny (Rivers)
Qua Iboe Mobil Qua Iboe (AkwaIbom)
Escravos Chevron Warri (Delta)
Brass NAOC Brass (Bayelsa)

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 ESTABLISHMENT OF FILLING STATION

A filling station is a place at the side of the road where we take our cars to buy petrol/gas, oil etc.
At the depots, the petroleum products dealers purchase the products and retail to customers at the
filling stations.

In order to establish a filling station, we must first secure a land and then inform the Department
of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for site inspection and approval. After the site is approved and
issued certificate by DPR, the Urban Development is then inform before the filling station can be
registered.

The following are the criteria for the establishment of a filling station:

 It must be 400m away from any existing filling station

 It must be 20m away from the main road in case of expansion later in the future
 It must not be closer to any residential area.

The order in which a filling station is certified for establishment

DPR → Urban Development → L.G.A → Fire Service → Police

There are two filling station dealers recognized by the public namely:

i. MAJOR MARKETERS

Major marketers are co-operate companies licensed to buying and selling of petroleum products
in filling stations and operate under the canopy of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria
(PEDAN). The major marketer’s Filling Stations established in Rivers State are:

 Forte oil (AP)

 Oando
 Conoil
 Mobil
 Total
 Texaco

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 ii. INDEPENDENT MARKETERS

Independent marketers are licensed individuals given bulk permit to operate a Filling Station to
buy and sell the petroleum products. This body operates under Independent Marketers
Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). From statistics available, there are about four hundred and fifty
(450) independent filling stations in Rivers State.

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CHAPTER FOUR

IMPACT OF THE INTERNSHIP

4.1 PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MONITORING AND

DISTRIBUTION IN THE STATE

 DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The intern students are attached to the Petroleum Engineers that are responsible in monitoring
the petroleum products allocated to the State from the Port Harcourt depot and supervise the
activities of the ad hoc staff posted to the various checkpoints to ensure that the products meant
for the State are not diverted to other States. The aim of the monitoring is to ascertain the actual
allocation and to determine the distribution of the products to the filling stations so as to bring to
zero level the artificial scarcity experienced in the State from time to time and as well to frustrate
the hoarding of the products to cause hike in the pump price. The following are the duties the I.T
students carried out with the Petroleum Engineers during the period of the attachment:

i. To monitor the activities of the ad hoc staff at the various checkpoints scattered along
the outlet of the State.
ii. To ensure that the petroleum products ordered from Port Harcourt depot arrived at the
designated filling station.
iii. To check for the product from the underground tank at the filling station and to
ensure that the product is actually discharged.
iv. To make sure that the products is dispensed to consumers at the stipulated pump
price.
v. To ensure the collection of the actual daily list from the Port Harcourt depot to create
a databank for predicting the consumption rate of the petroleum products in the State.

 CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED

 Dealers of the petroleum products often use moribund Filling Stations to order for the
products at the Port Harcourt depot.

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  Often times, the product meant for a particular filling station is diverted to another filling
station within the State or outside the State.

 EXPERIENCE GAINED
 How to check and record Ways Bills of Filling Stations on the actual list.
 Ability to know the difference between a batch list and actual list; a temporary Way
Bill and original Way Bill of Filling Stations.

4.2 PRECISION MEASUREMENT OF DISPENSING

PUMP/METER OF FILLING STATION

 DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

It is a common practice that filling station dealers usually adjust their dispensing pumps, which
often resulted to under delivery of the petroleum products to consumers. The I.T students of the
Petroleum Department are attached to a Team of Engineers to ensure that dispensing pumps in
the State are not adjusted and also in effective working conditions. Precision Measurement is an
exercise carried out in Filling Stations to determine the accuracy of dispensing pumps. In order
to achieve this, a Measuring Can commonly referred to as a “Proven Can” is use for the
measurement of the dispensing pumps. The Measuring Can is a calibrated 20 litres Can use in
measuring the product to the marked level to ascertain whether a particular pump is under
delivery or not. As part of the Team, the I.T students carried out the following:

 To ensure the effective performance of the Measuring can before putting into use.
 To make sure that the Measuring Can is internally dry and free from debris prior to use,
and is placed on a smooth/flat ground.
 To measure any suspected pump with the Measuring Can to the marked 20 litres level as
calibrated and take the reading from the glass scale at the filler neck.
 To see that the pump is dispensing normal 20 litres as expected but if proved otherwise
then that particular pump is temporary sealed until the pump is readjusted to deliver
normal.
 To carry out check on that particular Filling Station to ensure that the meter/pump is not
tempered with subsequently.

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  To visit Filling Stations where complain reached the Ministry from the public to carry out
precision measurement to verify the claim and caution where necessary.

 CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERD

 The filling stations’ attendants are not use to the Measuring Can; hence often
pump above the marked level of the 20 litres.
 The occurrence of splashing during delivery of the product into the Measuring
Can often results to wrong readings.
 The expansion and contraction of the 20 litres Measuring Can due to high
temperature i.e. the further the ambient temperature of the product is away from
15° the higher the likelihood of calibration error. Therefore using the Measuring
Can under high temperature has a great impact on the result accuracy.

 SOLUTION PROFFERED
 The measuring and reading were taken under normal temperature to avoid
calibration error due to high temperature.
 The pump attendant was always instructed to place the nozzle of the pump right
inside the Measuring Can and to pump gradually to eliminate splashing.

 EXPERIENCE GAINED
 I have learnt how the Measuring Can works and to use it in measuring dispensing
pumps effectively.
 It is the meter that is tempered with and not the pump that result to under
delivery of the products.

4.3 CHECKING AND CONTROLING OF ADULTERATED

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

 DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Filling Stations dealers in the State are engaged in abnormal practices due to economic gain in
the business, thus are involved in the adulteration of the petroleum products for accrue profit
making. The word “adulteration” simply means the blending of two or more miscible fluids
(petroleum products) to cause an increase in the quantity of the products so desired to

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accumulate more profit from the sales. As an I.T student attached to the Team of Engineers, I
discovered that most of the products commonly adulterated are PMS and AGO. The dealers
made purchase of the local products and blend the products as follows:

 Local AGO and refined AGO

 PMS and DPK
 Lubricating oil and AGO

The following duties were carried out to determined adulterated products:

 Visiting the Filling Station to determine the availability of the products by dipping into
the respective tanks i.e. PMS, AGO, and/or DPk
 Collecting of the products available into a calibrated cylinder to the mark of 500ml
 Testing for adulteration of the product by submerging the Densitometer into the cylinder
and allow to settle for about 20 sec.
 Taking the reading from the meniscus of the densitometer right inside the cylinder with
the product.
 Then cross checking the reading obtained from the densitometer with the standard rang to
determine the quality of the product.

Fig.1. Showing Densitometer and crude oil samples.

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MECHANISM OF THE DENSITOMETER

The Densitometer is an instrument used to test and check for adulteration of petroleum products.
The instrument is merely used to checked and test for the density of petroleum products. As a
result no the density difference of the petroleum products, the Densitometer used to test for the
adulteration of PMS is different from that of DPK and AGO. The reading from the Densitometer
is taken from the calibrated part right inside the cylinder with the product.

For instance, the reading obtained from the Densitometer for PMS is used to match with the
standard range recommended to ascertain a good product. The same is applicable to DPK and
AGO which differs in range due to density difference with the respective products.

Is should be noted that:

Density is defined as mass of a substance per unit volume

Density = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑘𝑔) ÷ 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑚3 )

S/N0. SUBSTANCE DENSITY (kg/m³) REMARK

1. Petrol (PMS) 720 – 750 Good
2. Kerosene (DPK) 800 – 820 Good
3. Diesel (AGO) 850 – 870 Good
Table 3. Showing the standard range recommended for the different petroleum products
indicating good products.

 CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTER

 Most of the Filling Station dealers refused for the test to be carried out for
adulteration of the products in their Station.

 SOLUTION PROFFERED
 In such situation, the Manager of the Station was invited to the Ministry of
Energy and natural resources for grilling and if prove otherwise was cautioned
and warned to desist from such act or face the penalty of sealing that particular
pump or the Filling Station entirely.

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 EXPERIENCE GAINED
 I have learnt how to use and take reading from the Densitometer for the respective
petroleum products.
 While using the Densitometer to test for adulteration, I observed that for highly
adulterated products, the instrument will lost its buoyancy and completely rest on
the bottom of the cylinder.

NOTE:

PMS – Premium Motor Spirit

DPK – Dual Purpose Kerosene

AGO – Automated Gas Oil

5.1 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I ended my Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme program successfully.
The experiences I gained in the course of the training program were indeed a memorable one and
cannot be overemphasize. The Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources,
Petroleum Department is involved in:

 Monitoring the storage and petroleum products distribution in the State.

 Precision measurement of dispensing pumps/meters
 Advice Government on petroleum matters on the development of alternative energy
resources.
 Develop framework for the State petroleum and energy policy.

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References
Coordinator, s. (Performer). (2014, Feburary 10). SIWES orientation. RSUST Convocation Arena, Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

George, E. P. (2014). I.T Report writing. Port Harcourt.

Oil Exploration in Nigeria. (2013, August 25). Retrieved 12 13, 2014, from Wikipedia:
www.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/oil_exploration_in_nigeria

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