Rivers Innovator Secures U.S. Patent in Breakthrough for Nigeria’s Oil Technology
By Naija Enquirer Staff
Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has recorded a major technology milestone as the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) celebrates Rivers-born engineer, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, following the approval of his Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Owunari confirmed that the invention had secured formal endorsement from the United States Government, describing the patent as both a personal victory and a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s energy sector.
He said the development should motivate Rivers State to adopt the tool as an official brand identity, stating that the breakthrough represents a shift from conflict-driven narratives to globally competitive engineering innovations.
According to him, the achievement is clear evidence that “Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.”
Experts from the Society of Petroleum Engineers in attendance highlighted the importance of the patented tool, noting that wax deposition in crude oil wells remains one of the costliest and recurring challenges for operators, often triggering production disruptions and expensive maintenance cycles.
SPE delegates further stressed that the innovation demonstrates the need for Rivers State and Nigeria at large to deliberately invest in inventors producing high-value engineering breakthroughs.
Industry professionals at the event explained that the technology is the outcome of extensive field observations, research, and experimentation aimed at improving flow assurance in complex well conditions.
They urged the Federal Government, especially President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to formally recognize the innovation and support similar inventions emerging from the Niger Delta.
Owunari provided insights into the patented system, stating that the Dewaxer Flow Enhancer was engineered to boost production efficiency, minimize downtime, and enhance operational safety across oilfield operations.
Stakeholders also cautioned against piracy of the intellectual property, warning that unauthorized reproduction of patented technologies discourages innovators and undermines national technological development.
They added that the milestone reinforces the image of a new Rivers State built on creativity, engineering content development, and technical excellence—rather than conflict or agitation.
The session concluded with renewed calls for collaboration between government and industry stakeholders to protect intellectual property and establish Rivers State as a hub for innovation-driven engineering solutions.
Participants noted that the Dewaxer Flow Enhancer “will solve some riddles in the oil and gas sector as well as other relevant sectors of the economy.”
