Italian energy firm confirms gas leak in Nigeria

Italian energy firm, Eni, on Tuesday confirmed the underwater gas leak from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Kalaba in the Niger Delta state of Bayelsa.

Eni, the parent company of NAOC, said that it had shut the oil well feeding the pipeline, which has production capacity for 120 barrels per day.

"The oil and gas leak is coming from an underwater gas pipeline beneath Taylor Creek in Kalaba community, Okordia Clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa," an Eni spokesperson said.

"I can confirm that on Feb. 21, we received reports of a spill on the flow line from the Taylor Creek 1T well in Nigeria," the official, who crave anonymity added.

"As soon as the event occurred, the well production was immediately stopped," he added.

"A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) is currently being undertaken, with representatives of the authorities and the communities involved, in a bid to ascertain what went wrong, afterwards, we will start the repair activities and the pipeline recovery," the spokesman stated.

According to the residents of Kalaba community, the gas leak, at high pressure, is causing giant bubbles in the Taylor Creek which serves as the sole source of water to the community.

Roman Orukali, the Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community, regretted that the incident had polluted the creeks and urged the oil firm to make contingency arrangements for water supply to the people.

He said that on getting to the spot by canoe, he discovered that it was true that gas was actually bubbling.

"Incidentally, this creek is our only source of drinking water and where we carry out almost all domestic activities," he added.

"Right now, the water is polluted and we have nothing to fall back on; Agip should provide us drinking water," Orukali said. Endit