Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited has suspended gas production at its oil mining lease 58 following water and gas resurgence in an uninhabited area close to its onshore Obite gas production facilities.
A statement by the company on Sunday said the incident, which occurred late in March, took place during drilling.
It also said domestic water analysis and air quality controls, which were being processed on a daily basis, had not revealed any presence of hydrocarbons or toxic elements.
The company said it had drafted experts to deal with the problem, adding that they (experts) were working with local communities to deal with the issue.
The statement read in part, "On April 3, Total E&P Nigeria Limited was alerted about some water and gas resurgence points observed in an uninhabited area close to its onshore Obite gas production facilities on the OML 58 licence.
"OML 58 is a concession operated by TEPNG on behalf of the NNPC/Total joint venture in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, Rivers State. This event is the likely consequence of a technical incident that occurred during drilling operations on the same site on March 20.
"There have been no injuries. Production from the Obite gas plant has been stopped and wells shut down. Since the beginning, a special task force has been in place with the support of well-control experts in order to implement technical solutions to resolve the situation."
The Punch