Relief In Bayelsa As Nembe Oil Spill Contained 32 Days After

Thirty-two days after the Well 1, OML 29 leakage started spewing crude oil into the Santa Barbara river in Opu-Nembe, Nembe local government area, crews engaged by the Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO) has finally stopped the leakage on Wednesday.

LEADERSHIP gathered from experts on the site of the massive oil leakage that control packages have been successfully installed on both arms of the well.

Aiteo had stated that the oil well which the company acquired in 2015, had been mostly dormant and had been securely isolated since then, adding that the leak was a high pressure one and therefore needed international support.

Also in preparation for the “well kill”, Aiteo had raised a team comprising members from its internal well operations experts as well as a foreign firm, Boots & Coot, to hasten the operation.

In a statement made available to journalists via electronic mail, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, confirmed that, “To the glory of God, we have put out the leak at SBAS – We are grateful for all the aupport. We have successfully installed control packages on both arms. Rig up pump on the long string and pump open the ball valve.

“Closed both control packages and shut-in well flow. Currently preparing to pump kill fluid into the long string. Note that the short string is already killed and dead with zero pressure.”

According to the statement, the next steps for the Well 1, OML 29 will be to complete pumping of kill fluid into the long string (LS)

“Achieve zero psi on surface, Rig down pump and rig up wire line. Drift both tubings and run in hole to install isolation plugs. Install non-return valves, Nipple down Christmas Tree and carry out comprehensive service on wellhead and Christmas Tree. Install Christmas Tree and secure well and Clean up wellhead platform and surroundings,” it added.