Chevron rig fire damage hits Nigeria shores
By Ejiofor Alike
7 February 2012 The damage caused by the fire on KS Endeavour, a drilling rig operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Limited for Chevron Nigeria Limited on Funiwa Field in Block 86 in Bayelsa State has hit the coastal communities, polluting water and the environment. KS Endeavor was drilling a natural gas exploration well, when it caught fire on January 16, with two contractors missing and two other workers given medical care for burns. Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Strategic Business Unit, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop had however said in a statement that after three days of intensive search for the missing contractors was unsuccessful, the company called off the search and sent condolences to the families of the missing individuals. Chevron confirmed that 152 workers on the shallow water rig and associated barge were safely evacuated from the incident, which occurred about 10 kilometres – six miles from the shores. The company’s General Manager in charge of Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Femi Odumabo, told THISDAY that as a precaution against the raging inferno, the company shut down the nearby North Apoi field, halting production of 2,000barrels per day of crude oil. As the fire continues from the burning gas, the company said it has deployed foreign drilling experts and well control specialists to assist with well control efforts and also put out the fire. Odumabo, who confirmed this development, stated that the rig is no longer burning because it had collapsed inside the water, while the fire from the burning gas has also reduced considerably. […] Chevron has also stated that it had completed delivering supplies of food items to several communities along the coast of Bayelsa State. A statement by Odumabo identified the communities to include the Koluama 1, Koluama 2, Ezetu 1, Ezetu 2, Ekeni, Sangana, Foropa Communities, Amatu 1, Amatu 2, Bilabiri 1, Bilabiri 2 and Bisangbene communities and others. “The donation is in recognition and appreciation for the assistance the residents of these shoreline communities provided, including locating and rescuing some workers from the KS Endeavor drilling rig approximately 10 kilometres offshore. CNL (Chevron Nigeria Limited) has distributed loads of rice, cassava, cooking oil, milk, chicken, cows, beverages and other supplies of food to these communities,” he said. […]
