The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced on Saturday that a fire has broken out at the Akaso 4 Wellhead, operated by NNPC 18 Operating Limited. The incident, which has also affected the adjacent riverbank, occurred on August 2, 2024, at approximately 11:12 pm.
In a statement, Mrs. Olaide Shonola, Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Communication for NUPRC, detailed the response measures. An emergency team has been dispatched to secure the well and isolate the affected area using spill containment materials to prevent further environmental contamination.
Additionally, the company has deployed a Naval Houseboat to the site and established community surveillance to monitor the situation. Plans are in place to commence the oil recovery process immediately, although the cause of the fire remains unknown.
A joint investigation involving relevant stakeholders will be conducted to determine the cause and assess the impact of the incident. The NUPRC noted that Akaso Well 4 has been inactive for an extended period.
Mrs. Shonola also addressed the ongoing fire at Alakiri Well 9T, which began on February 23, 2024. Efforts to extinguish this fire have been hampered, and contractor Kenyon International West Africa Company is now planning to switch from a heat extraction method to a total oxygen extraction method.
The NUPRC is set to meet with the management of NNPC 18 Operating Limited to review the safety and integrity of its operations. Further updates on the incident will be provided as they become available.
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