Oil Spill Response Firm Collaborates with Total Energy and NIMASA to Tackle Egina Crude Oil Spill
An oil spill response firm has partnered with Total Energy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to address a crude oil spill from the Egina oil field in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The spill, which occurred during loading operations on November 15, 2023, is estimated to result in the potential loss of about 2.3 million barrels of crude oil. TotalEnergies operates the Egina Floating Production and Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility.
Key Points:
- Crude Oil Spill Incident:
- The crude oil spill incident occurred during loading operations at the Egina oil field in Port Harcourt around 6:30 am on November 15, 2023.
- Egina is an FPSO located at a water depth of 1,400 to 1,700 meters, 200 kilometers offshore from Port Harcourt, and is operated by TotalEnergies.
- Spill Response Collaboration:
- An oil spill response firm, Total Energy, NIMASA, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) are collaborating to contain the spill.
- The spill response efforts include aerial surveillance, dispersant application, and further mobilization to address the environmental impact.
- Extent of Spill and Loss Estimate:
- The volume of the spill has not been confirmed, but efforts are underway to assess the extent of the environmental impact.
- The spill is estimated to potentially result in the loss of about 2.3 million barrels of crude oil.
- TotalEnergies’ Response:
- TotalEnergies, as the operator of the Egina FPSO, is actively involved in the response efforts and is providing aerial surveillance and dispersant application to contain the spill.
- Stakeholder Collaboration:
- NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, emphasized that the agency is working closely with all stakeholders to control and mitigate the pollution resulting from the crude oil spill.
Conclusion: The collaboration between the oil spill response firm, Total Energy, NIMASA, and other agencies underscores the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing environmental incidents in the oil and gas sector. The focus is on containing the spill, assessing its impact, and implementing measures to minimize environmental damage. Environmental and regulatory agencies play a crucial role in responding to such incidents and ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to protect marine ecosystems and coastal areas.
