The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, has raised the alarm over frequent oil spills caused by equipment failure from Idu oil fields in Bayelsa State, operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC.
Recall that NAOC few days ago, shutdown well11 in its Idu oilfields in Egbebiri-Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa, following massive leaks from the facility.
The leaks which became noticeable on May 7th 2021, according to the Joint Investigative Visit report on the incident, as confirmed by Eni (the parent company of NAOC) was caused by equipment failure due to a rupture on the wellhead.
Speaking on the development, Head of Field Operations, ERA, Mr. Alagoa Morris, regretted that the Idu fields, operated by NAOC, was notorious for frequent spills caused by equipment failure.
Morris lamented that the spill incident which discharged crude oil and associated gas has severely damaged the environment.
He explained that a visit to the spill site showed evidence of the crude spreading beyond NAOC’s right of way, as nearby vegetations have withered as a result of the crude impact.
“The people of Egbebiri in Biseni kingdom have experienced several oil spills over the years.
“All the oil spill incidents documented by the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeriain this community environment have occurred as a result of equipment failure and on wellheads.
“ERA/FoEN has had cause to visit the environment of Idu Well 5 and 11 located within the same place in the past and it has always been Idu Well 11 spewing crude oil into the environment.
“Available records from ERA/FoEN indicate that there has been previous oil spills from this particular Idu Well 11 operated by Agip.
“Before concluding this field report, ERA/FoEN confirmed that Joint Investigation Visit was carried out on Sunday, 9th May, 2021.
“This is why the official Spill Reference No 2021/ LAR/028/058 is indicated in this report; sourced from the JIV report. Cause of spill was attributed to equipment failure,” ERA/FoEN explained.