Oil wells on fire in Ondo, as Chevron responds, mobilises to site

THE people and residents of the Ajegunle-Ikorigho community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over the fire outbreak which was accompanied by an explosion.

According to a source in the community, the explosion has affected five of the oil fields in the area.

He identified the oil fields affected by the fire to include Ojumole-Ikorigho, Isan-West and Isan field, Parable field, Malu field, Ororo and Opokaba.

The inferno was also reported to have affected Otumara, Ikorigho, Ajegunle-Ikorigho, Zion Ikorigho, Iluayo, Kendo Ayeren and Ehinmoghan-Ikorigho communities

He said the cause of the fire cannot be ascertained but said that it had spread to some parts of Ojumole which are located in Ikorigho land.

Reacting to the development, the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) confirmed the fire outbreak but the company has mobilised to the site to access the site.

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This was contained in a press statement issued by the General Manager, Policy Government & Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, who said “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 confirmed that Ojumole field is in NNPC/CNL JV’s Western Niger Delta area of operations, and disclosed that “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.

“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.

“There was no impact to any of the neighbouring communities. CNL is currently working with contractors to safely put out the fire as quickly as possible.”

Brikinn said CNL remained committed to the safety of the communities and the environment within its areas of operation.

He, however, said, “We continue to conduct our operations safely, reliably and efficiently, with the utmost consideration for protection of people and the environment.”