SPDC tackles leak on new Nembe Creek Trunkline
Jan 03, 2012
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) is mobilising to repair the Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL) after crude theft leaks forced it to be shut down on 24th of December last year.
SPDC had confirmed the leak on the 90-kilometre line and quickly shut in some producing flow stations, while also isolating the facility. Some 70,000 barrels of oil per day is deferred.
The NCTL evacuates majority of SPDC and third party crude oil production in Eastern Swamp operations to Bonny Terminal.
A joint investigation conducted by DPR, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, SPDC and the community showed oil thieves had installed valves at two points near the Tora manifold in Nembe in Bayelsa State. More than 200 barrels of spilled oil have been recovered.
Vice President HSE & Corporate Affairs, Shell Sub-Saharan Africa, Tony Attah said “What is really worrying about this leak is that it happened on a facility which was commissioned in October 2009 to replace an old line which was repeatedly targeted by crude oil thieves. Sadly, the crude thieves continue to hinder efforts to maintain the integrity of key national oil and gas assets.”
SPDC is working to complete repair of the line before the end of January 2012.