Fire Erupts at NNPC Oil Well

A fire has been reported at the Akaso 4 Wellhead, operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Company 18 Operating Limited, in Rivers State. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed the incident in a statement by its spokesperson, Olaide Shonola, on Saturday.

The fire, which spread along the adjacent riverbank, reportedly began on Friday at around 11:12 p.m.

“NNPC 18 Operating Limited has confirmed that a rapid response emergency team has been deployed to secure the well, address the incident, and isolate the affected area using spill containment materials to prevent further spread and environmental contamination. They are also planning to start the oil recovery process immediately,” Shonola stated.

She added that the company has deployed a Naval Houseboat to the incident area and established community surveillance to monitor the situation.

While the cause of the incident is not yet known, Shonola disclosed that a joint investigation with relevant stakeholders is being planned to determine the cause and the area of impact. She noted that the Akaso Well 4 has been out of operation for a significant period.

Meanwhile, the NUPRC spokesperson revealed that the fire at NNPC’s Alakiri Well 9T, which started on February 23, 2024, is still ongoing.

“The contractor engaged to manage the situation, Kenyon International West Africa Company, is facing challenges in extinguishing the fire. They are now planning to deploy the total oxygen extraction method instead of the current heat extraction method.

“The equipment fabrication is 100 per cent complete, and the contractor is awaiting mobilisation from the well owners. Contractor personnel are on-site monitoring the incident,” she emphasized.

A meeting with the management of NNPC 18 Operating Limited is planned to review the safety and integrity of its operations.

“We will provide further updates on the incident as soon as they are available,” Shonola concluded.