Chevron blames Ojumole Well fire on third party interference

CHEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture (JV) between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (NNPC/CNL JV), has blamed the fire incidence at Ojumole Well No. 1 on third party interference as it battles to contain the fire.

According to a press statement by the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), CNL, Esimaje Brikinn, the company confirmed that at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2019, a fire was observed at the Ojumole Well No. 1, an idle and plugged well with no flowline connected to it. Ojumole field is in NNPC/CNL JV’s Western Niger Delta area of operations.

He said CNL conducted an overflight to evaluate the fire and also mobilised emergency responders to assess the site, contain the fire and boom the area. In addition, CNL notified community stakeholders about the incident and also reported it to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and other regulatory and security authorities.

ALSO READ: Chevron MD calls for sustained investments, growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector

“A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site of the incident on Saturday, April 20, 2019, by a team made up of regulatory agencies, community stakeholders and CNL, determined that the fire incident was caused by third-party interference. There was no impact on any of the neighbouring communities.

“CNL is currently working with contractors to safely put out the fire as quickly as possible. CNL remains committed to the safety of the communities and the environment in its areas of operation. We continue to conduct our operations safely, reliably and efficiently, with the utmost consideration for protection of people and the environment,” he said.

Incidence of pipeline vandalism may be raising its ugly head after the Nembe Creek Trunk Line was attacked last week by third-party agents. But the view has been put out and the entire situation has been brought under control by the management of AITEO Group, owners of the 150,000 barrels per day transportation pipeline.