NNPC deploy emergency team, as fire breaks out in Akaso Well

The Akaso 4 Wellhead operated by
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company 18 Operating Limited caught fire at about 11:12pm on 2 August 2024.

As contained in a statement issued by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), on Saturday, the NNPC 18 Operating Limited has deployed a rapid response emergency team 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.

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“They are also planning to start the oil recovery process immediately. The company has deployed a Naval Houseboat within the incident area and established community surveillance to monitor the situation, the statement said.

It explained that the cause of the incident is not yet known.

Meanwhile, the commission said a joint investigation with relevant stakeholders is being planned to determine the cause and the area of impact.

“It’s important to note that the Akaso Well 4 has been out of operation for a significant period of time. As a reminder, the fire at the company’s Alakiri Well 9T, which started on 23 February 2024, is still raging,” it said.

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The NUPRC explained that the contractor engaged to deal 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,” it added.

The NUPRC further explained that 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.”