Pipeline Vandalism: Chevron Nigeria lost 40,000 bpd of crude oil
[N]igeria late Thursday lost over 40,000 barrels per day of crude oil to another attack on three of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) operated swamp flow stations in the Warri South-West council area of Delta state.
Thursday night’s incident was the second consecutive-day’s mishap, which responsibility had been claimed by a new insurgent group, which called itself the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The Nation, gathered from reliable community sources that three platforms in Makaraba, Otunana and Abiteye were damaged, leading to the loss of more than 40,000 barrels per day.
According to the source, another attempt by the hoodlums to sabotage three other platforms in Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba was successfully repelled by security forces. The other major incident was on the company’s Okan offshore manifold.
“Very serious blast at Abiteye, Otunana. Our Otunana axis occurred around past 10pm, there is still fire in Azama gas line now, but we don’t know the cause or what the people want or who they are fighting for. We don’t know where they are going or where they are coming from.
“The production cut is put at over 40,000 barrels per day from the Makaraba, Otunana and Abiteye swamp operations, three out of six. The attack towards Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba was resisted by the Nigerian armed forces so that side couldn’t be blown up. The Okan manifold in the offshore was also attacked. This is the one that goes to the FSPO offshore.
“What this means is that Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba will still be pumping product to Chevron’s tank farm for storage, but they won’t be able to discharge because of the attack on the Okan manifold in the offshore.
“For gas, although the blew gas pipeline too, the impact was not much because according to them, their production for Chevron gas is on, but only their production for NNPC/NGC gas line is the only one affected and that is the fire that is still on at the back of Azama”, the source said.
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a new insurgent group, sworn to destroying the nation’s oil and gas economic base, had yesterday claimed responsibility for the Thursday night attacks, just like those of the Wednesday’s midnight attacks.
In its statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Col. Mudoch Agbinibo, claimed that its attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Coperation (NNPC) crude and gas lines in an undisclosed location was in the fruition of an ultimatum demanding an apology from wanted ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).
“To keep to our promise, the three (3) days ultimatum given to Chief Government Ekpemupolo has elapsed and he fails to apologize to the Niger Delta Avengers, at 2200hours Thursday, May 5, 2016, our strike team 4 hit the Nigerian National Petroleum Coperation (NNPC) crude and gas lines
“The Crude line feeds the Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively, while the gas line feeds the Lagos and Abuja electricity power supply. With this development the Warri and Kaduna refineries will be shut down and all cities that depends on the gas line for power will all be in total darkness like the creeks of the Niger Delta.
“In same vein, the Niger Delta Avengers strike team 7 at same time 2200hours Thursday, May 5, 2016, blew up Well D25 in Abiteye. A major gas Well belonging to Chevron. And also blow up major pipe lines to effectively put the Abiteye, Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm out of operation. As at now Chevron operation in the Niger Delta is zero”, the group claimed.
Meanwhile, the management of the oil giant, Chevron, disputed facts of the incidences that occurred and the company’s spokesman, in a terse response to questions from Saturday Nation, said only the Okan manifold was breached.
According to Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policies, Government and Public Affairs of CNL, only the Okan platform was breached, but later said in another short message that new information on sabotage, promising to get back later with more details. He never did till this report was filed, more than three hours later.
“Not true, only Okan offshore platform is breached. Not sure yet what has been shut in”, he responded to a text message inquiry. He later sent another message saying ” just got information on new sabotage. I will get back to you shortly. I will revert to you when I have additional information,” he never did.
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