[Interview with Tunde Ajala, Executive Director, Dovewell Oilfield Services, Nigeria
Tunde Ajala is the founding executive director of Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd, a Nigeria oil and gas company that has invested in modern innovations and expertise to spur Nigeria and West Africa’s petroleum and energy sectors.
He talked to Africa Business Communities about the company’s business model, the growing clientele base as demand for modern technology in the petroleum business burgeons, the emerging threats to the industry and the aspirations of the company moving forward.
Tell us a bit about Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd
Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd is a fully Nigerian owned oil and gas service company founded in 2009.
Our primary focus is to employ our specialized, technical expertise and motivate our team of professionals in contributing positively to the Nigerian Petroleum and Energy main industry in particular and West Africa in general.
We are a powerhouse of technology, creativity and expertise. We possess unrivalled problem solving proficiency and acumen in the Petroleum industry.
Our services include inspection Services (NDE/NDT Assessments, Pipeline integrity Management,Pigging), rope access, surface Protection (Cathodic Protection, Corrosion control, Pipeline protection coating, Blasting and Coating), integrated Sand Management, overhaul, Installation, Commissioning Spares, Repair and Maintenance (valves, pumps, compressors,turbines etc.), offshore Crane Maintenance, marine Support / Tank & Vessel Cleaning Services and procurement services and Contractual support.
What is your unique selling points?
Dovewell has been able to partner with world class Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), making us original equipment manufacturers’ distributor for a variety of world-class oil industry products and equipment and offer post installation after sales service with provision for in country stock holding/inventory for prompt or just-intime delivery of critical service spares.
We have the reach and means to procure materials from around the globe through a wide supplier/stockists network world wide. This has given us leverage of providing genuine products to clients with reduced price and lead time as these are key to execution of projects.
Our technology in accessing heights using Rope Access technique reduces project time, lowering downtime and minimizing the impact on ongoing operations, significantly reducing the cost to clients in comparison to traditional methods.
This has brought tremendous benefit to our customers.
Dovewell owns an extensive inventory of equipment including but not limited to; semi-automated propriety systems enabling us to undertake surface preparation by means of UHP water jetting (Hydro-blasting), abrasive (wet and dry) blasting and mechanical methods including dust-free and recyclable options. Also, our real time composite technology has helped reduced down time in operations.
How has the market responded to your products? Why do you think that is so?
Our clients have been responsive in our products due to the fact that we present world class OEM.
As partners to these OEMs, we have the ability to stock operational spares as well as commissioning spares. These have positive effects on projects as leadtime to procuring these spares for emergencies are shortened drastically.
Also, Dovewell through our Partners (PERAR VALVES) has set up a facility for maintenance and repairs of high pressure subsea valves in Nigeria with our staff well trained to execute any repairs / servicing of valves incountry.
This has curbed expenses of exporting valves overseas for repairs or bringing in expetraite incountry for repairs and servicing of valves.
What would you say has shaped your business in 2018?
What shapened our business 2018 was our improvements, customer focus and satisfaction.
How is competition in your sector? How are you insulating yourselves from the competition?
The competition in Oil & Gas sector is majorly “Making prices irrelevant”.
This, Dovewell has greatly achieved as we represent world class OEM who are widely used in ALL International Oil & Gas Companies (IOCs) and EPCs for ongoing and upcoming projects in Nigeria.
Prices are gotten directly from OEMs with limited mark up and reduced leadtime to client which should have been reversed if we do not represent any OEM incountry.
Who are your clients?
Shell Petroleum Development Company, SNEPCo – the Shell Nigeria exploration and production company, Total E&P, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Exxon Mobil, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, Wagpco, Addax Petroleum West African Ventures among others.
What is the latest news from Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd?
We entered into a contract with TOTAL E&P on 5 years Routine Crane Maintenance services.
NLNG has appointed Dovewell as Buying House for a period of 3 years and SNEPCo via Napims has awarded Dovewell a contract for Provision of NDT Maintenance Inspection Services for Bonga FPSO for a period of 5 years.
What do you consider as the biggest threat to the oil sector in Nigeria and Africa as an industry player?
Declining Oil price have taking a toll on the global oil and gas industry. We are yet to recover fully from the global depression of the past three years. An absence of investment has slowed potential export projects and a lack of clarity on the role of joint ventures is also complicating the picture.
Militancy remains a real concern. It’s been one of the major reason why companies with a track record in Nigeria, haven’t renewed some contracts.
How is the local content landscape in Nigeria? What are you doing to enhance it?
Dovewell have been able to achieve the development of local skills , technology transfer, use of local manpower and local Assemblying facility.
Being in partnership with Peerless pump in Indianopolis for manufacture and supply of various pumps to Nigeria in which millions of dollar projects have been executed successfully giving us the quota booster award in 2015.
During Installation, commissioning and periodic maintenance of these pumps, Dovewell was able to engage local Engineers with wealth of experiences are being employed as well as community personnel to provide their services.
Also, our incountry valve Maintenance facility has given opportunity for employment and technology transfer to many indigenous personnel.
Who should contact your company, and why?
All Oil and Gas Industries, I.O.Cs, EPCs and marginal field operators
This is because Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd aims to be a force and significant player across the entire value chain of the oil & gas industry in Nigeria specifically, and West Africa in general.
We are poised to deliver solutions to our client’s technical problems and provide project management services as needed. Dovewell Oilfield Services Ltd culture is one of focused, innovative and entrepreneurial management, which brings effective services to our customers, through communicative teamwork, combined with efficient business and information technology systems.
SOURCE: ABC
