Officials with Royal Dutch Shell PLC say they’ve contained the worst Nigeria offshore oil spill in more than a decade.
Shell officials said on Monday that the Dec 20 spill that saw less than 40 000 barrels of oil pouring into the Atlantic Ocean has been dispersed. Shell officials acknowledged those aboard the Bonga vessel only noticed the spill after seeing it in the morning light, probably hours after it began leaking.
Shell said an investigation into the spill is ongoing.
Production at the field, representing about 10% of Nigeria’s oil output, remains shut in.
Shell operates the field in partnership with Italy’s Eni, Exxon Mobil , France’s Total and the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.