Federal Government agencies and the Ministry of Environment in Rivers State are currently addressing a gas leak incident at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company’s Well 6 in the Sangama community, Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said that the NUPRC, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Rivers State Ministry of Environment as well as community representatives and the Nigerian Police Force were working to deal with the leak.
The NPDC is the flagship upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited involved in oil exploration and production.
Komolafe, in a statement he personally signed, said, “The NUPRC has been notified of a gas leak incident on NPDC’s Well 6, in Sangama community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Efforts are being made alongside other relevant agencies to deal with the situation.
“The incident which was reportedly observed on September 3, 2022, at about 13:30 hours, was reported by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration & Production Limited on September 9, 2022.”
Komolafe added, “A joint investigation visit was carried out on September 11, by a team from NUPRC, NOSDRA, Rivers State Ministry of Environment as well as community representatives with the NPF in attendance.”
The NUPRC boss stated that during the joint visit, the team observed a gas leak from one of the valves on the wellhead.
“A closer look revealed that the Anode valve on the well head had been tampered with. It was adjudged by the regulators to have been caused by third party interference,” he stated.
He, however, stated that the community did not agree with the regulators and as a result, would not sign the joint investigation report in spite of the technical explanation by the team.
Komolafe added, “This prompted the team to reconvene on September 15, 2022, when, after an extensive discussion, all stakeholders eventually signed the incident report”.
