NOSDRA Attributes 3,000-Barrel Oil Loss at Egina FPSO to Export Hose Failure

InfoStride News reported that the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) attributed the loss of 3000 barrels of oil at Egina FPSO to an export hose failure. In an update provided by Mr. Idris Musa, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, on Sunday, November 26, it was revealed that the agency responded promptly to the incident by deploying dispersants, chemicals used to clean up crude oil spills.

Musa highlighted the swift deployment of personnel to the spill site, located at the Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 130 kilometers off the Rivers/Akwa Ibom coastline. He explained that the oil spill resulted from an operational mishap caused by the failure of an export hose. Thanks to the quick response of the operator, the leak was identified and stopped, preventing further spread and environmental damage.

Shoreline surveillance and baseline mapping were conducted from Calabar River to Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom, as part of the agency’s efforts to assess the impact of the spill. Musa reported that the spill incident was communicated to NOSDRA by TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria PLC, and the response involved the use of a Borba dispersant application aircraft and six expatriates from Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) in Southampton, UK.

Musa stated, “The spill is as a result of an export hose snap on November 15 at 06:27 hrs; the facility is located deep offshore at a distance of 130 km from the shoreline, and ultra deep-water depth of 1150 m. The report of the incident complies with extant laws and regulations. Following a request from TotalEnergies, we facilitated entry into Nigeria, a Borba dispersant application aircraft and six expatriates from Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) Southampton, UK, to hasten response activities.”

Providing a backstory, TotalEnergies had reassured on Thursday, November 23, that the oil production at the Egina field remained unaffected despite the spill during loading operations on November 15. Charles Ebereonwu, the Communication Manager of the company in Nigeria, confirmed active management of the spill and clarified that it had no impact on ongoing oil production at the site.

Moreover, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) reported that nearby shoreline communities, including Andoni, Qua-Iboe terminals, Bonny Island, Opobo/Nkoro, and Eastern Obolo, were not affected by the spill. The collaboration between regulatory agencies, response teams, and the operator played a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact and ensuring a swift and effective response to the oil spill incident. InfoStride News remains committed to providing accurate and timely updates on significant events, such as environmental incidents impacting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.