Shell Shuts Nembe Creek Trunkline

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), has shut down the new 90 kilometers Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL), in Bayelsa State, triggering more than 70,000 barrels of oil per day in production deferment.

The shutdown of the trunkline follows the discovery of a crude leak occasioned by sabotage activities of local thieves who pierced through the huge pipeline on Christmas Eve last year.

A statement by Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, yesterday, confirmed that the company had been forced to shut down the trunkline, while swiftly mobilising personnel and equipment to repair the NCTL.

According to Okonedo, “SPDC had confirmed the leak on the 90-kilometre line and quickly shut some producing flow stations, while also isolating the facility. Some 70,000 barrels of oil per day is deferred.”

The NCTL evacuates majority of SPDC and third party crude oil production in Eastern Swamp operations to Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.

“A joint investigation conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, SPDC and the community showed oil thieves had installed valves at two points near the Tora manifold in Nembe. More than 200 barrels of spilled oil have been recovered,” the statement said.

Okonedo quoted the Vice President, HSE and Corporate Affairs, Shell Sub-Saharan Africa, Tony Attah as saying that, “what is really worrying about this leak is that it happened on a facility which was commissioned in October 2009 to replace an old line which was repeatedly targeted by crude oil thieves. Sadly, the crude thieves continue to hinder efforts to maintain the integrity of key national oil and gas assets.”

The Shell media manager added that SPDC was working round the clock to complete repair of the line before the end of January 2012.

Nelson Chukwudi

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi (right) with member, House of Representatives, Hon. Andrew Uchendu (left) and son of late paramount ruler of Rebisi Kingdom, Mr. Alex Woluchem during the Governor's condolence visit to the family of the deceased, yesterday .