Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has suspended crude oil operations on its 16-inch Nun River-Kolo stream crude trunkline in Bayelsa following an oil spill. The company confirmed that production into the pipeline has been halted as efforts are underway to contain and remediate the spill.
SPDC spokesperson Michael Adande stated that the leak was detected in the Obololi community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. The spill was reported by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), which has initiated a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause. However, as the pipeline is submerged, identifying the exact origin of the leak remains challenging.
Adande reassured stakeholders: “SPDC’s Oil Spill Response Team promptly isolated the line and suspended production. The regulatory authorities and other key stakeholders have been notified, and plans for a regulator-led JIV are underway.”
The affected 16-inch pipeline serves as a crucial conduit for transporting crude oil from various fields in the Bayelsa wetlands to the SPDC manifold in Kolo.
