End User Interview
A glimpse of the engineering world at NLNG
In an exclusive interview with Lead Plant Engineer Mr Charles Uleh from
NLNG, we got to experience the daily life of an engineer at an LNG plant, the challenges that can be faced with maintenance, operation and lead times, and how to navigate the intricate world of valves and actuators in such a plant.
By Lyndsey Denton-Fray, Valve World
Career path
With over 27 years of experience, Mr Uleh’ s insights into the dynamics of the Nigeria LNG( NLNG) are fascinating, having seen the evolution of the facility from its early days to its current status as a mature operation. Beginning his career as a telecoms engineer before progressing through the ranks at NLNG, he now leads what he calls the“ Integrity Optimisation Team” that oversees trains one through six.“ In 1998, I moved to NLNG, where I started as an instrument technician, and over time, I grew through various roles, including workshop engineer, workshop supervisor and instrumentation discipline engineer,” explains Charles. Over the years, his expertise in instrumentation has been pivotal in his progression to his current position as Lead Plant Engineer for the train assets, responsible for overseeing six operational trains. Charles manages a small team of discipline engineers( M / E / I) and plays a key role in keeping the plant operational.“ The Integrity Optimisation team looks after the train assets, where my main focus is to ensure that everything that is required to keep the train running for the day is provided from an engineering perspective,” shares Charles.
A day in the life of a lead engineer
The role of a Lead Plant Engineer is dynamic and requires constant adaptability. On a typical day, Charles and his team ensure the smooth running of the plant through proactive technical monitoring and field assurance support.“ The train can be very unpredictable, so your day is always busy,” he remarks.“ Whether it’ s a small problem like a pump not starting or investigating material issues, there’ s always something to handle. No day looks the same.” While routine maintenance is part of the job, there are always unforeseen challenges, especially in a plant that has been operational for over 25 years. At 25 years old, the NLNG plant is entering what Charles describes as its‘ elderly’ phase.“ Typically, a plant is designed for 20 to 25 years and is now at the end of its first cycle,” explains Charles.“ The standard maintenance you will have applied when you’ re starting is different now. You’ re more in line of rejuvenation and then getting things back in order.” This means that keeping the plant in optimal condition requires ongoing re-engineering and problem-solving, especially in critical areas like flow control systems and valves.
Lead Plant Engineer, Charles Uleh
Managing challenges
Perhaps most impressive is the sheer scale of the operation. The plant maintains approximately 10,000 valves across its integrated facility, with globe valves comprising over 80 % of the inventory. The plant works with a wide variety of systems, Charles shares:“ We have a whole spectrum of valves here, and they’ re all in deployment, whether it’ s for the LNG trains or the utilities or gas receiving stations.” However, maintaining these valves over time presents challenges, particularly when dealing with the corrosion and erosion of materials in harsh conditions. As Charles explains,“ After 25 years, the valves are starting to show signs of corrosion, especially on those in cold or hot services. We also have a lot of rain in Bonny, so pitting becomes a concern. These issues can lead to pinhole leaks, and ultimately, loss of containment if not identified and managed proactively.” Despite these challenges, the plant is well engineered and equipped to manage the issues that arise. As Charles puts it,“ We have strategies in place to respond to any situation. It’ s not always in your hands, but with proper planning and a good team, we’ re able to adapt and keep things running. We have the early warning system via Valve Predictive Analytics, Maintenance Advisor for valves with diagnostic capabilities. We have the‘ find and
14 Valve World May 2025 www. valve-world. net