The parent company of the Nigeria
Agip Oil Company, Eni, has said that the blast at the Agip Oil Field in Nembe has cut the nation’s oil export from its Brass terminal by 25,000.
The oil firm said the Nembe blast was the second attack in a few days after an earlier incident on its Obama flow station on February 28 drops production by 5000 BPD.
The oil company in a statement on Monday indicated that gas output of 13 million standard cubic meters per day has been deferred as result of the blast which occurred in Nembe main town.
It was stated that the incident had forced NAOC, the Nigerian unit of Italian energy firm, Eni to declare a ‘Force Majeure’ on expected oil output at Brass terminal, gas feeds to Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant respectively.
“An incident occurred on the Ogoda/Brass 24” oil line, at Okparatubo in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The event was caused by a blast, consequently causing a spill.
“All wells connected to that pipeline were immediately shut-in whilst river booms and containment barges were mobilized to reduce the impact of the spill.
“Regulators for inspection visit and repair teams have also been activated. State and Federal Government and Security authorities were notified.
“Deferred production is estimated at 25 kbopd oil and about 13 MSCM/d of gas.
“Force majeure has been declared at Brass terminal, Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant,” Eni stated.
Meanwhile the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has confirmed that a Joint Investigative Visits on the two incidents has been conducted.
The Director-General NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa, blamed the two incidents on vandalism.
According to him, the first incident of February 28 resulted in a leak of 20 barrels of crude oil while 1,249.8 barrels were discharged into the environment in the second incident.
However, the agency said that the field officers assigned to the incidents had not filed their reports.
The leakage of large quantity of crude oil to the predominantly fishing settlement along the Nembe Creek has triggered serious complaints and concerns among the indigenes.
The indigenes whose fishing settlements are located along the creeks have bemoaned the devastating effect of the spill on the environment and their fishing activities.
The Chairman of the United Fishing Union, Santana, Mr Noel Ikonikumo, Sangana lamented the incessant spills in the area within a period of three months.
According to him, the spills include the Nov 5, 2021 well blowout from Aiteo’s field in Nembe, a gas leakage at Conoil’s field at Sangana in Brass LGA also in Nov 2021
Ikonikumo stated further that another devastating spill occurred at Aiteo Flow Station in February, before the current two which have all caused serious damage to the environment.