NOSDRA, Oil Firm Activate Emergency Response as Fire Ravages Oil Wells in Rivers

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has confirmed a report of a fire incident at two oil wells operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Limited (Eroton E&P) in Rivers state.

Idris Musa, director-general, NOSDRA, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the incident occurred on Monday at Akaso wells 14 and 4T wellheads.

Musa said following the notification of the incident to the agency, NOSDRA officials alongside the oil firm’s emergency response team (ERT) were immediately deployed to the site.

“The company has mobilised a vendor which is expected to arrive the incident location today, October 4, 2022 to extinguish the raging fire from the wells. The agency will supervise the activity accordingly,” he said.

“An illegal boat which was suspected to be engaged in oil theft was observed at the location. The boat has been completely burnt but the fire on the boat has been extinguished.

“The two wells are however still on fire until the vendor arrives to extinguish it.”

Musa also said a situation room was created by the company for effective communication with all relevant stakeholders.

According to the director-general, NOSDRA has directed the company to give a two-hourly update on the incident.

In June 2022, in the space of three weeks, two oil leaks occurred at oil mining lease (OML) 18, operated by Eroton E&P.

The incidents occurred at Cawthorne channel field, well head 15 and 047, respectively — spilling for about a month.