Fire outbreak rocks NNPC oil well

A fire has broken out at the Akaso 4 Wellhead operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) 18 Operating Limited, according to a statement released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) spokesperson, Olaide Shonola, on Saturday.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday at approximately 11:12 pm and extended along the adjacent riverbank. Authorities are currently assessing the situation and working to contain the fire to prevent further damage. The cause of the fire and the extent of the impact are under investigation.

“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 contamination of the environment. They are also planning to start the oil recovery process immediately,” Shonola said.

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

While stating that the cause of the incident is not yet known, Shonola disclosed that a joint investigation with relevant stakeholders was 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 the NNPC’s Alakiri Well 9T, which started on February 23, 2024, is still raging.

“The contractor engaged in dealing with the situation, Kenyon International West Africa Company, is facing some challenges in putting out the fire.

“They are now planning to deploy the total oxygen extraction method instead of the heat extraction method currently being deployed.

“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 stressed.