A fire has broken out at the Akaso 4 Wellhead, which is operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Company 18 Operating Limited in Rivers State.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed the inferno in a statement by its spokesperson, Olaide Shonola, on Saturday.
The NUPRC said that the fire began around 11:12 PM on Friday and has spread to the nearby riverbank.
In response to the fire, NNPC 18 Operating Limited has deployed an emergency team to secure the well, address the situation, and prevent environmental contamination using spill containment materials.
A Naval Houseboat has been stationed at the site, and community surveillance has been established to monitor the incident.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and a joint investigation with relevant stakeholders is planned to determine its origin and impact.
The Akaso 4 Wellhead had been inactive for some time before the incident.
Additionally, the fire at NNPC’s Alakiri Well 9T, which began on February 23, 2024, has not stopped burning.
The contractor, Kenyon International West Africa Company, is encountering difficulties with the heat extraction method and is now preparing to use a total oxygen extraction approach.
The necessary equipment has been completed, and the contractor is awaiting further instructions from the well owners while monitoring the situation.
A meeting with the management of NNPC 18 Operating Limited is scheduled to discuss the safety and integrity of their operations, with updates to follow as more information becomes available.
