Suspected crude oil thieves have reportedly attacked and vandalised the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline, disrupting the gas export schedule of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from oilfields in Bayelsa.
The breach of the pipeline operated by Agip Oil Company cuts the firm’s gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas gathering and processing plant.
The vandalised point located within Okaka and Azikoro in Yenagoa Local Government Area was engulfed by fire on Wednesday.
Mr Idris Musa, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) confirmed the incident on Thursday.
The spills response agency had on March 30 said that its investigations revealed a rising spate of sabotage-induced oil and gas leaks at oilfields in Bayelsa.
Musa had raised the alarm that three sabotage incidents had occurred on oil and gas facilities in Bayelsa within one week and advised operators to reinforce surveillance.
The NOSDRA boss explained that shortly after fixing the gas pipeline a few days ago, vandals blew up the pipeline and it went up in flames.
“There was a gas leak last week from a vandalised gas pipeline OB-OB/Ogboinbiri pipeline at Okaka in Bayelsa State. The pipeline was repaired but unfortunately re-vandalised again thus resulting in fire.
“The Nigerian Agip Oil Company is working actively to depressurise the pipeline in order to effect repairs on the pipeline,” Musa said.
Officials of NAOC declined to comment on the incident and negligence of the regulator’s advice to intensify surveillance on the asset when contacted for a response.
The fire at the incident site, which had forced surrounding vegetation to with is yet to be put out as of Thursday morning.
