Heirs Energies, operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17, has commissioned a state-of-the-art Integrated Operations Monitoring Centre (IOMC) in Port Harcourt, marking a significant step in its digital transformation strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency, production optimisation and asset security across one of Nigeria’s largest onshore oil blocks.
The facility, developed in partnership with Redtech, the technology company within the Heirs Holdings Group, serves as a centralised digital command hub that integrates real-time operational intelligence from multiple field locations. The platform consolidates production monitoring, security surveillance, hydrocarbon evacuation, facility performance and critical asset management into a unified system, enabling operators to make faster and more informed decisions.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Osa Igiehon, described the facility as a strategic investment that positions the company for the next phase of growth in an increasingly technology-driven upstream sector.
“The future of upstream operations will be driven by data, technology and intelligent decision-making. The Integrated Operations Monitoring Centre provides us with a real-time operational view of our assets, enabling quicker decisions, improved collaboration and enhanced operational efficiency,” Igiehon said.
According to the company, the IOMC functions as the operational nerve centre of the OML 17 Joint Venture, providing continuous oversight of field activities while supporting predictive maintenance, production optimisation, asset integrity management and operational risk reduction. The centre also incorporates advanced surveillance and intruder detection systems designed to strengthen security across remote oil and gas installations, enabling earlier threat identification and faster emergency response.
Redtech Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ojo said the project demonstrates how digital innovation is reshaping industrial operations and improving productivity in Nigeria’s energy sector.
“The IOMC demonstrates what is possible when digital innovation is applied to industrial operations. Working alongside Heirs Energies, we have delivered a platform that enables connected operations, intelligent monitoring and faster operational response,” Ojo said.
The commissioning builds on Heirs Energies’ operational turnaround since assuming operatorship of OML 17 in 2021. Through its Brownfield Excellence strategy, a model focused on maximising production from existing assets using operational improvements and technology, the company has increased crude oil output to more than 50,000 barrels per day while expanding domestic gas supply to over 120 million standard cubic feet per day.
Industry analysts view investments in digital oilfield technologies as increasingly critical to improving efficiency, reducing operational downtime and enhancing safety amid rising production targets and growing pressure to optimise costs. By embedding advanced digital capabilities into daily operations, Heirs Energies aims to strengthen operational resilience, improve collaboration across field teams and support sustainable production growth in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry.
