Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) on Wednesday said the volume of oil leakage in Friday from its operations in Bayelsa was yet to be determined.
The
management of AEEPCO in a statement by its Spokesperson, Mr Mathew Ndianabasi,
confirmed that the incident occurred on Nov. 5.
Ndianabasi
stated that the leak was reported from a non-producing well head in its
Santa Barbara South field, in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
According
to the company, remediation efforts to mitigate the impact of the resulting
pollution on the environment was already underway as investigation by
regulatory agencies was also going on.
“The
magnitude of this incident is of an extremely high order. Neither the cause of
the spill, nor the quantity of leaked hydrocarbon could be determined at the
time of the discovery, though containment booms were deployed.
“And,
recovery commenced immediately around the well head. As an incident of
this nature imports, the necessary Oil Spill Notification Report have been
promptly communicated.
“The
notification was made to National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency
(NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and National
Petroleum Investment Services(NAPIMS) as is required by regulation.
“A
Joint Investigative Visit, (JIV) to the spill site was held by all relevant
stakeholders, community inclusive. The JIV at the time, was inconclusive, owing
to difficulties with access due high pressure of hydrocarbons from the well
head.
“Additionally,
immediate efforts to control the leak were aborted due to the high pressure
emanating from the well head.
“Consequently,
Aiteo has mobilised a full intervention team with well control specialists and
equipment both locally and internationally to arrest the leak.,” the statement
read in part.
AEEPC
said that the well wasyet to be shut in as preliminary indications suggest that
crude oil theft and sabotage activities are suspected to be behind the
mishap.
Shell
Petroleum Development Company in 2015 divested its equity in OML 29 and
transferred its interest in the oil block, including the 97 km Nembe Creek
Trunk Line for 2.4 billion dollars to Aiteo.
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