Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC/Aìteo Joint Venture on OML 29, has successfully shut down the leak on its Santa Barbara wellhead in Nembe, Bayelsa state.

The company had in a statement issued on November 9, 2021, reported an oil spill from a non-producing well head in its Santa Barbara South field, in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Aiteo had stated that the well which the company acquired in 2015, had been mostly dormant and had been securely isolated since then, adding that the leak was a high pressure one and therefore needed international support.

Also in preparation for the “well kill”, Aiteo had raised a team comprising members from its internal well operations experts as well as a foreign firm, Boots & Coot to hasten the operation.

That was in addition to the earlier mobilisation of the Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA), a Nigerian coalition, as part of the attempt to halt the leak which was said to comprise about 20 percent oil and 80 percent gas.

A statement from the company on the latest development stated that the leak has now been fully stopped while other steps were being taken to consummate the process that started a few weeks ago.

“To the glory of God, we have put out the leak at SBAS-1. We are grateful for all the support. We have successfully installed control packages on both arms.

“There’s a rig up pump on the long string and the pump opens the ball valve. Also, we have closed both control packages and shut-in well flow. The team is currently preparing to pump ‘kill fluid’ into the long string. Note that the short string is already killed and dead with zero pressure”, Aiteo said on Wednesday

On the next number of steps, Aiteo said it will: “Complete pumping of kill fluid into the long string (LS). Achieve zero psi on the surface and rig down pump as well as rig up wireline.”

In addition, it stated that another step was being taken to drift both ‘tubings’ and run in holes to install isolation plugs and non-return valves.

1. “We will then nipple down the Christmas Tree and carry out comprehensive service on the wellhead and Christmas Tree as well as install it and secure the well. Thereafter, we will clean-up the wellhead platform and surroundings”, the statement added.