……….Says However, Repairs Underway
Italian energy group Eni confirmed yesterday that its Ogboinbiri gas pipeline in Bayelsa state had been vandalised, causing a leak and production losses.
Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), who operated the pipelines in the area, accused “third parties” of cutting the pipeline with hacksaw. “The line is depressurized and is currently being repaired. Production losses due to the shutdown are important,” a spokesperson said.
But NAOC later told newsmen that the Monday leak is under control.
Newsmen monitoring the incident site, reported that the gas leak was under very high pressure and the resulting noise from the discharge has ceased.
The development followed a directive by National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to NAOC to shut down the oil and gas wells feeding the breached pipeline, to extinguish the pressure, and pave the way for a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV).
Also Read: Bayelsa Oil Leak Caused by Crude Oil Thieves – NOSDRA
It was observed that oil workers have been deployed to fix the leak, while the JIV was also ongoing. Production data obtained from NAOC shows that the incident cut Agip’s gas exports by five million standard cubic meters per day (MMSCM/d).
Eni, the Italian parent company of NAOC, in a statement availed on Thursday, regretted that the impact of the incident on gas output was significant.
“Eni confirms that a third party’s interference hacksaw cut caused a gas leak at the Ogbainbiri-Ob/Ob gas pipeline. The line is depressurised and is currently being repaired. Production losses due to the shutdown are important”, Eni stated.
It was gathered that the drop was a sequel to an explosion that occurred at the 24 Ogboinbiri and OB-OB gas pipeline, the gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant.
Also Read: Panic Grips Bayelsa Communities Over Agip Oil Leak
Mr. Idris Musa, the director-general and chief executive officer (CEO), National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), confirmed the pipeline blast on Wednesday and said the agency would lead an investigation into the incident as soon as it is safe to do so.
Musa assured that NOSDRA would conduct the investigations in a transparent manner and pledged that its findings would be made public in due course.
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