Shell: We’re investigating oil spill incident in Bayelsa

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) says it is investigating a report of an oil spill from its facility in Ogboinbiri, Bayelsa state.

Mike Adande, spokesperson, SPDC, in a statement on Monday.

NAN had reported that an operational error at Diebu Creek Flowstation, operated by SPDC, led to the discharge of a yet-to-be-ascertained volume of crude into the environment on August 24.

Adande, in the statement, confirmed that the oil firm was aware of the report of the spill.

“We are working with regulators and [the] local community to investigate the reported incident,” Adande said.

“The Diebu Creek stopped injection into the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) on February 25, owing to constant breaches of the TNP by crude oil thieves.

“The TNP is currently undergoing tests with water main flushing.”

Meanwhile, residents of Peremabiri community lamented the adverse impact of the spill and accused SPDC of insensitivity and neglect.

They also bemoaned SPDC’s delayed response to the spill which they said had degraded the land and marine environment as well as impacted a wider area in the community.

According to them, the discharge of large volumes of crude into the environment has polluted the Nun river, swamps, and farmlands, causing hardships to the predominantly fishing and farming settlement.

Speaking on the incident, Return Koma, chairman, Peremabiri Community Development Committee, said officials of SPDC had convened a joint investigative visit (JIV) to the flowstation and impacted site.

“They called to say that they are coming for a JIV on Tuesday and shortly they shifted it to today being Monday, so we are waiting,” Koma said.

 He added that the JIV report would reveal the cause of the spill, the estimated volume, and the impacted area. 

On November 5, 2021, a wellhead owned by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spilled oil for over a month in Bayelsa. 

Earlier in the year, Eroton Exploration and Production Limited reported two leaks at oil mining lease (OML) 18, caused by a “third-party interference”.

Last month, another oil leak occurred on the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by SPDC joint venture (JV) in Bodo community, Rivers state.