A fire has been reported at the Akaso 4 Wellhead, operated by NNPC 18 Operating Limited in Rivers State. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Olaide Shonola. The fire, which began on Friday around 11:12 pm, has spread along the adjacent riverbank, raising concerns about environmental contamination.
In response to the incident, NNPC 18 Operating Limited has deployed a rapid response emergency team to secure the well and manage the situation. The team is utilizing spill containment materials to isolate the affected area and prevent further spread of the fire. They are also preparing to initiate the oil recovery process as soon as possible.
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To enhance monitoring efforts, the company has deployed a Naval Houseboat to the incident area. Community surveillance measures have also been established to keep a close watch on the situation. While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Shonola indicated that a joint investigation involving relevant stakeholders is being planned to ascertain the cause and assess the impact area.
The spokesperson also highlighted that the Akaso Well 4 has been out of operation for a significant period, which may be relevant to the ongoing investigation. In related news, the NUPRC reported that Nigeria’s daily oil production has reached 1.61 million barrels per day, and the country produced 236 million barrels of crude over the past six months.
Meanwhile, the NUPRC also noted that the fire at NNPC’s Alakiri Well 9T, which ignited on February 23, 2024, is still active. The contractor, Kenyon International West Africa Company, is facing challenges in extinguishing the fire and is now planning to switch from the current heat extraction method to a total oxygen extraction method. Equipment fabrication is complete, and the contractor is awaiting mobilization from the well owners while personnel remain on-site to monitor the situation.
