. As NUPRC announces fire outbreak at ConOil’s Jatumi well
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the oil and gas spill in Santa Barbara, Nembe, Bayelsa State, as the worst he had seen in his lifetime.
The Governor made the declaration, yesterday after he returned from visiting the spill site at oil mining lease (OML) 29 Well 1 platform, operated by Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited (AEEPCO).
Despite Aiteo’s assurances last week Friday to control the leak within 48 hours, the wellhead has continued to spew oil and gas into the Santa Barbara River for almost a month.
Recall that the Minister of State of Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, who had told State House correspondents last Wednesday that the situation is under control, however, said the spill was like a war zone.
An estimated two million barrels of crude has reportedly been spilled into the river, polluting the flora and fauna of the area, the Governor’s spokesperson, Dan Alabrah, said in a statement.
Efforts by Aiteo, which hired Halliburton’s Boots and Coots to “kill the well” by injecting cement into it, has not yielded the desired result.
As of Wednesday, the Bayelsa government said the spill that began November 5 was still ongoing.
Notwithstanding Aiteo’s claims, Diri insisted that the continuous spillage has further endangered the lives of the people of Nembe, Bayelsa and indeed the Niger Delta.
He said: “Today happens to be a very dark day for me. What we have seen, I believe, is worse than what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. In all my life, I have not seen such a magnitude of oil spillage.
“Our people are endangered. Our people’s source of livelihood is endangered. I empathise and sympathise with the people of Nembe on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State.
“I like to give you hope that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Your government will activate every constitutional means to arrest and redress this magnitude of oil spill.”
Today happens to be a very dark day for me. What we have seen, I believe, is worse than what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. In all my life, I have not seen such a magnitude of oil spillage.
ConOil well fire
Governor Diri’s declaration comes as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), yesterday, again announced a fire incident occurred at the Jatumi Well-1 in OML 150, operated by Continental Oil and Gas (ConOil) Limited.
The facility is located in the swamp of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
A statement from the Commission said the announcement followed the statutory report of the fire incident by the ConOil on Monday, after which its “field operations team promptly mobilized to the site to assess the fire and probable cause(s).”
The statement also reads in part: “Our preliminary investigation has revealed that there was no fatality recorded even though surrounding evidence suggests that the fire was as a result of economic sabotage/criminal vandalism of the wellhead following the location of an abandoned boat laden with crude found at the scene of the incident.
“The NUPRC wishes to state that the company has mobilised an appropriate response team to the site under the regulatory supervision of the Commission and the situation is under control.”
The Commission concluded by reassuring the general public and all stakeholders that it is taking every necessary precaution “to ensure that the fire outbreak will have the least impact on the community and environment.”
The NUPRC wishes to state that the company has mobilised an appropriate response team to the site (Jatumi Well) under the regulatory supervision of the Commission and the situation is under control.
Containing the Nembe spill
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa Government House statement, while calling for Aiteo to immediately take action to stop the oil spill, also noted that the prolonged oil spill into the Santa Barbara River and air had an immediate and long term effect on the health of the inhabitants.
Diri assured the people that appropriate measures would be taken to seek redress, stating that the quest by oil firms to maximise profit would not be at the expense of the lives of the people.
Describing fishing as the main source of livelihood of the people of the area, the Governor noted that just as there are grazing routes, Bayelsa State also has fishing routes that must be protected.
He therefore expressed empathy with the Nembe people, whom he said have lost their means of livelihood due to the spill, while appreciating them for their peaceful disposition.
