Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on Thursday laid claims to the five oil wells that were gutted by fire in some communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Reports had emerged early Thursday that five wells including, Ojumole-Ikorigho, Isan-West and Isan field, Parable field, Malu field, Ororo and Opokaba, were burning.
Sources said that the fire started in Ajegunle Ikorigho community and spread to communities like Ojumole, which is located in Ikorigho land in the local government.
Although no cause has been attributed for the inferno, CNL confirmed that the fire started last week Thursday.
In a statement on Thursday by the company’s General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, the company said efforts were ongoing to put out the fire.
The statement read, “The operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the CNL confirms that at about 10pm on Thursday, April 18, 2019, a fire was observed at the Ojumole Well No. 1, an idle and plugged well with no flowline connected to it. Ojumole field is in NNPC/CNL JV’s Western Niger Delta area of operations.
“The CNL conducted an overflight to evaluate the fire and also mobilised emergency responders to assess the site, contain the fire and boom the area. In addition, CNL notified community stakeholders about the incident and also reported it to the Department of Petroleum Resources, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and other regulatory and security authorities.
“A Joint Investigation Visit to the site of the incident on Saturday, April 20, 2019, by a team made up of regulatory agencies, community stakeholders and CNL, determined that the fire incident was caused by third-party interference. There was no impact on any of the neighbouring communities.”
Source: Ripples Nigeria