Nigeria loses 25,000 bpd over blast at Agip’s Brass Export terminal in Bayelsa

[From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa]

More calamity has visited the Nembe people in Bayelsa State as Eni, parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on Monday reported a spill at its facility in the area.

A statement from the management of the company said that a blast which occurred at the facility has cut oil export from its Brass Export terminal by some 25,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The oil company said that the incident was the second attack in a few days after an earlier incident on February 28 at its Obama flow station led to a production shortfall of 5,000 barrels per day.

The statement noted that gas output of 13 million standard cubic metres per day has been deferred due to the incident.

Following the incident, NAOC, the Nigerian unit of Italian energy firm, Eni had declared ‘Force Majeure’ on expected oil output at Brass terminal, gas feeds to Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant.

Our correspondent learnt that Force Majeure is a legal clause in contracts which absolves firms from legal liabilities due to circumstances beyond its control.

The statement reads in part, “An incident occurred on the Ogoda/Brass 24” oil line, at Okparatubo in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“The event was caused by a blast, consequently causing a spill.

“All wells connected to that pipeline were immediately shut-in whilst river booms and containment barges were mobilized to reduce the impact of the spill.

“Regulators for inspection visit and repair teams have also been activated. State and Federal Government and Security authorities were notified.

“Deferred production is estimated at 25 kbopd oil and about 13 MSCM/d of gas.

“Force majeure has been declared at Brass terminal, Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant,” Eni stated.

When contacted, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) confirmed that the Joint Investigation Visits on the two incidents have been conducted, but said that the field officers assigned were yet to file their reports.

Mr Idris Musa, the Director-General said that the two incidents were traced to vandalism, adding that 20 barrels leaked in the Feb 28 incident while 1,249.8 barrels were discharged into the environment in the second incident.

Expectedly, fisher folks in the affected communities are lamenting the adverse impact of frequent spills in the area.

Chairman, United Fishing Union, Sangana, Mr Noel Ikonikumo, listed the oil spills to include the Nov 5, 2021 well blowout from Aiteo’s field in Nembe, a gas leakage at Conoil’s field at Sangana in Brass LGA also in Nov 2022.

He said that barely three months after the November 5, 2021 incident from Aiteo’s field, another leak occurred in February, while another two incidents occurred near Ship’s Obama Flow station in Nembe which cumulatively polluted the waters they fish in.

“These spills have threatened our vocation and they oil companies responsible have been insensitive to the plight of fishermen who operate in their neighbourhood.

“Whenever there is a spill, our nets and other fishing gears get soaked in crude and get condemned because you can no longer use them as the smell of crude scares fish away.

“We have written to the companies concerned to see reason with us and assist us but have not got any response, we are contemplating seeking redress in court,” the fishermen leader said.