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Evaluation of Factors Influencing Timely Delivery of Natural Gas Pipeline Projects

 

in Niger Delta Zone of Nigeria

 

FEATURED PAPER

By Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme, PhD

Department of Project Management Technology
Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Owerri, Nigeria


Abstract

This study evaluated factors that influence timely delivery of natural gas pipeline projects in Niger Delta zone of Nigeria. The objectives are to: determine if there is any variation in the time objectives of gas pipeline projects executed by Oilserv Nigeria limited; examine the individual effect of the identified factors on timely delivery of the natural gas pipeline projects in the Niger Delta Zone of Nigeria; ascertain whether the collective effect of identified factors on timely delivery of the natural gas pipeline projects in the Niger Delta zone of Nigeria is significant or not. The literature study reveals that the main factors influencing the timely delivery of natural gas pipeline projects include construction issues, administration and management issues, contract award, financial and economic issues, and design-related issues. The survey was conducted via administering questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze collected data. Results show that most of the projects suffered time overruns. The timely delivery of natural gas pipeline projects in the zone was influenced by the factors both individually and jointly. Hence, the study recommends that project teams should enhance their organizational knowledge, planning and scheduling skills, supervise subcontractors on site properly, provide sufficient funding, strictly adhere to existing laws and regulations, and accurately design construction projects while taking the unique characteristics of the project locations into account. Ultimately, it is imperative that project managers, team members, and other key stakeholders have sufficient training in managing conflicts that frequently develop throughout project operations.

Keywords: Time Management, Influencing Factors, Natural Gas Pipeline Projects, Engineering, Procurement, Construction.

1.0 Introduction

Effective time management is allocating the appropriate amount of time to the appropriate task at the appropriate time. Good time management enables people to allocate particular time slots to tasks based on their priority. According to Obodoh and Chikasa (2016), a project is considered successful if it is completed within the specified timeframe, budget, and to the satisfaction of all involved parties. Nonetheless, a sizable amount of the world’s energy consumption is derived from oil and gas. based on a number of methods used by the oil and gas sector to motivate contractors to enhance their project planning and execution techniques in order to cut down on the time and costs associated with oil and gas projects. The concerning trend in oil and gas pipeline projects is the growing number of delays, which has raised international attention. On the other hand, when the project cannot be completed within the allotted time, there will be a delay or time overrun. On the other hand, in order to satisfy the clients’ goal of increasing productivity and profitability, oil and gas contractors must complete projects more quickly, more affordably, and with higher quality (Shehzard, 2015).

Currently, one of Nigeria’s biggest obstacles to economic development is project failure and/or abandonment due to schedule and budget overruns. Infrastructure and industrial expansion, especially in public sector initiatives, are at risk due to this issue. Akpan, Echeme, and Ubani (2017) claim that because this has persisted for such a long time, it seems to be impeding the nation’s advancement. Since we are a developing nation, we must concentrate our efforts on finding solutions. However, it appears that ineffective project time management is a major contributing factor to these problems, which could lower project quality and expense. Because of poor project time management among other reasons, critics increasingly see public initiatives as little more than a conduit pipe through which our fast-diminishing resources are wasted.

In Nigerian oil and gas wells, enormous amounts of natural gas are produced as a raw material. Despite the large-scale generation of this energy source, a greater percentage of it is flared due to a lack of suitable transmission and distribution (transport) infrastructure, wasting valuable and scarce foreign exchange for the nation (Anyadiegwu, Ohia and Ukwujiagu, 2015). In order to transport natural gas across large distances quickly and effectively, a large network of interconnected pipes is required. The pipeline system is among the safest methods of distributing natural gas because it is subterranean and permanent. The three main categories of pipeline transportation are distribution, transmission, and gathering pipelines. (Yan and Zhang Zhang, 2018).

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How to cite this paper: Echeme, I. I. (2024). Evaluation of Factors Influencing Timely Delivery of Natural Gas Pipeline Projects in Niger Delta Zone of Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue VII, July. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pmwj143-Jul2024-Echeme-factors-influencing-timely-delivery-of-natural-gas-pipeline-projects.pdf


About the Author

Ibeawuchi I. Echeme, PhD

Owerri, Nigeria

 

Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme is a lecturer in the department of Project Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Echeme has a B.Tech, MSc, and PhD in Project Management Technology. He has published more than fifteen (15) articles in both international and national reputable journals and a textbook on Project Time, Cost and Quality Management. He is a Certified Project Director (CPD) and a member of International Project Management Professionals (IPMP). Dr. Echeme has presented papers in conferences and workshops within and outside Nigeria. He can be contacted through; ibeawuchi.echeme@futo.edu.ng and ibeecheme@yahoo.com;