Eroton Exploration & Production Company Limited has confirmed an uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbons with wildfire into the environment.
It said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the incident occurred in wells AKOS004L/S and AKOS014L/S of the Akaso field and was observed by members of the community on October 1, 2022.
AKOS004 was completed as a dual string well and came on stream in May 1994. It was subsequently shut in December 2020 for well integrity repairs.
AKOS014L/S, on the other hand, came on stream in 2005 and was also completed as a dual string, which was quit in August 2018, and subsequently followed by vandalisation of the wellhead accessories by third-parties.
In the statement issued on Tuesday, the company’s spokesperson, Mercy Max-Ebibai, said, “These wells were observed to be releasing uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbon into the environment with wildfire.
“This is due to the suspected compromise and vandalism of XMAS Tree containment valves of the wellheads, presumed to be from illegal bunkering activities.”
The company said the recent incident was the fourth of confirmed and suspected sabotage and vandalism in the last three months experienced by Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited.
It said this was snowballing into an existential treat to the company.
“The AKOS004L/S and AKOS014L/S flow was discovered to be coming out from the short string flow arm of both wells.
“A cursory look at the wells from a distance show the absence of some wellhead valves on the body of the XMAS TREE,” Max-Ebibai stated.
She further confirmed that Eroton had duly informed the requisite regulators including and their host community through the designated cluster board of the incident.
She also stated that Eroton Emergency Response Team had been working around the clock to abate the situation.
The company spokesperson also stated that a joint investigative visit with key stakeholders and members of the press was being planned in earnest.
Eroton is the operator of Oil Mining Lease 18 on behalf of the NNPC/Eroton JV. OML 18 oil field is situated in the eastern Niger Delta and covers a total area of 1,035 square kilometer in an onshore swamp terrain. Eroton is based in Lagos and Rivers states.
