Shell Battles Spill, Fire In Ogoniland …As Production Falls By 30,000 Barrels Per Day

A fire outbreak has been reported within the SPDC JV right-of-way at Patrick Waterside, Bodo, Ogoniland and close to the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), even as investigations and repair work continue on last week’s spills in the area.
The entire TNP system, comprising the 24-inch line and 28- inch line had been closed on October 9 as a precautionary response to the spills, but the 28″ TNP was reopened shortly after investigations established that the leaks were on the 24 inch line only.
In a statement made available to The Tide, and signed by the Corporate Media Relations Manager, SPDC said that the 28-inch TNP has now been shut in again due to the fire at Patrick Waterside.
The fire is now off but the 28-inch will remain closed until checks are carried out.  This means that the entire TNP is shut-in, resulting in production of 150,000 barrels of oil per day being deferred.
The force majeure on Bonny Light exports remains in place.
Investigations into the earlier incidents showed that unknown persons had drilled holes on the 24-inch TNP at B-Dere, while an excavation was observed at Bodo West.
Investigation into the spill at Nonwa-Tai is continuing.
Meanwhile, SPDC is taking appropriate actions to minimize impact on the environment and ensure the safety of members of the community, SPDC staff and its contractors.
SPDC will initiate clean-up and remediation, as well as provide relief materials and compensate those who may be impacted upon establishment of volume and impact of any operational spill as determined by the JIV report.
It would be recalled that the shutting of SPDC’s Trans Niger Pipelines (TNP) and the Bonny Flow Station in the past one week had led to product cuts of 300,000 barrels per day.
The TNP which pumps 150,000 barrels of oil per day from B-Dere, Nonwa-Tai and Bodo West terminal was shut following reports of new leaks, arising from oil theft, barely 10 days after the line was repaired.
On the other hand, the shutting of the Bonny flow station and the deferment of another 150,000 barrels per day of the Bonny light export, followed increasing cases of oil theft, Shell said.

L-R: Director, Rivers Arts and Culture Council, Mr Deede Baede; Chairman, Rivers Indigenous Visual Artists, Mr Patrick Jumbo and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie, at the Rivers Indigenous Visual Artists Exhibition In Port Harcourt, yesterday