Communities around the Otuagidi oil facility owned by the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have raised the alarm over a crude spill from the company’s oil well.
Vanguard reliably learnt that the leak site, identified as Oloibiri 2, is one of the SPDC Joint Venture’s non-producing wells in the Ogbia enclave of the state.
At press time, the immediate cause of the leak, which was noticed Tuesday, could not be ascertained, but it was gathered that the spill is fast spreading to the adjoining communities.
The SPDC said it had deployed equipment to the area to prevent the spread of the crude, pending investigation into the cause and repairs.
But sources told Vanguard that the sound emanating from underground, near the oil well, is causing panic among natives of the area who have formed a vigilante group around the scene to prevent unscrupulous individuals who may want to capitalize on the spill to scoop the crude, thereby causing an explosion.
Commenting on the incident, Mr. Bright Ogbuku, who spoke on behalf of the Ogbia Great House, said the spill from the oil well was noticed about seven days ago during which they tried to reach the management of SPDC without success.
Ogbuku alleged that the firm was already aware of the spill, but noted that the indifference by the firm was not new to the community, recalling similar incidents in 2004 and 2006.
“This spill from the oil well is coming out seriously as you can see. We are asking the federal and state governments to prevail on the oil company to deploy men and machine to the spillage site to avoid any form of explosion.
“Aids should be sent to the affected area because farms and water have been polluted. It is not sabotage, as you can see crude seeping out of the underground.
“The same incident had happened in 2004 and 2006.The management of the SPDC came to see it then and promised to repair the leakage but they reneged. All we are doing now is to build a fence round the scene of the present leakage to avoid any explosion. We are in danger in the area,” he lamented.
Confirming the incident, Shell spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, said “a leak has been reported at Oloibiri 2, one of SPDC JV’s non-producing wells in Bayelsa State .
“We confirmed the leak yesterday (May 5) and immediately deployed equipment to prevent crude spread, pending investigation into the cause and repairs.”