By Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Chineme Okaforin Abuja
15 February 2012 Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke will this weekend embark on an assessment tour of the site of the recent fire outbreak that resulted from an explosion from a new gas well head at Funawa 5 gas platform along the Koluama River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
KS Endeavor, a drilling rig operated by FODE Nigeria Limited, was drilling a natural gas exploration well for Chevron Nigeria Limited in Block 86, when it caught fire on January 16, 2012, with two contractors missing and two other workers given medical care for burns. However, the rig itself is no longer burning, having collapsed inside the water, while the fire from the burning gas has also reduced considerably. As the fire continues from the burning gas, the company said it had deployed foreign drilling experts and well control specialists to assist with well control efforts and also put out the fire. Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Levi Ajuonuma quoted Mrs. Alison-Madueke as saying in a statement yesterday that the visit would enable the Federal Government to have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. “In view of the likely environmental impact that may arise from the continuing fire, the Minister has also invited the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited to be part of this important visit,’’ he said. […] ]It is also envisioned that the Minister would use the visit to appraise the impact of the incident on the adjoining communities in line with the Federal Government’s readiness to address the issues of environmental pollution by the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources.
Chevron Rig Fire: Alison-Madueke to Visit Bayelsa Community
