The recent explosion at the oil field belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), located in Bayelsa State would adversely impact its crude export to the tune of 30,000 barrels daily, the company has revealed.
The incident which occurred on Nov. 20 has put the cumulative production shut in at 180,000 at the field pending when the breached pipelines are fixed.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that vandals had attacked oil facilities operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and NAOC at Ikarama community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The management of Eni, parent company of NAOC in an email statement to NAN said the oil firm had declared ‘Force Majeure’ on oil exports from its Brass Oil Export Terminal.
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Force Majeure is a legal clause inserted in contracts to absolve a company from liabilities arising from factors beyond its control.
According to Eni, preliminary checks at the facility indicate that the vandals used explosives in the attack which blew up two vital pipelines, leading to shutdown of oil production from the field.
“We confirm two sabotage events by means of explosive devices, which damaged two pipelines in the swamp area in the night between Friday 20th and Saturday 21st.
“Production was stopped immediately after the event; consequently the emergency response team has been mobilised and able to contain the spill with booms few hours later.
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“Repair activity, oil spill recovery and clean-up are ongoing.
“Full production resumption is estimated in one week time.
“Impact on production is estimated at 30,000 barrel of oil equivalent daily (boed) of which Eni’s share amounts approximately to 6,000 boed.
“Force majeure was declared on Brass terminal to notify contractually the export tankers about the delays in the lifting schedule of about one week on the original plan.
“Regulatory agencies and Government security agencies have been notified and are investigating,” Eni stated.
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However, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) said its preliminary findings indicated that the attack was carried out by vandals.
The State Commandant of NSCDC in Bayelsa, Mrs Christiana Abiaka-Omanu, said that investigation into the incident was already underway.
She said the findings would form part of the statutory Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) which would include representatives of the oil firms, communities, regulators and officials of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment.
By Peace Obi with Agency Report
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