NUPRC Identifies 13 High-Risk Wells in Rivers State

• The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission classified 13 oil and gas wells in Rivers State as high or very high risk.
• Three wells near the Bille community gas seepage were designated very high risk, with ten others rated high risk.
• NUPRC screened 28 wells in total, with 15 classified as medium to low risk.
• An ongoing investigation uses scientific fingerprinting to determine the source of the gas, with results expected in Q4 2026.
• Community evacuation may be necessary if the gas seepage is found to be a natural geological phenomenon.

A critical consideration arising from these investigations is the potential necessity for community resettlement.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has identified 13 oil and gas wells in Rivers State as either high or very high risk following an assessment around reported gas seepage locations in the Bille community. This classification emerged from a comprehensive screening of 28 wells, with three designated as very high risk and an additional ten categorized as high risk. The remaining fifteen wells were deemed to pose a medium to low risk. These findings, disclosed by Eniola Akinkuotu, NUPRC's Head of Media and Corporate Communications, underscore significant concerns regarding the safety of facilities situated near the emission points.

The NUPRC's ongoing investigation aims to definitively establish the origin of the gas emissions in the Bille community, located within the Degema Local Government Area. Joseph Ogunsola, the Director of Subsurface Development at the NUPRC, presented these critical findings during a technical session at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Abuja. His presentation, titled “Unravelling Gas Seepage and Bubbling in Nigeria: The Integrated Study Approach Towards Source Attribution,” highlighted the commission's proactive steps to address the unusual occurrence.

A specialized technical team, established by the NUPRC, has been tasked with probing the subsurface conditions in the affected areas to determine the underlying causes of the gas seepage. This team's investigative scope encompassed wells selected based on their proximity to the observed seepage points and the geological reservoirs encountered during their initial drilling. Azibamikiomam John-Adumo, Senior Manager for Onshore Frontier Development Drilling, represented Ogunsola at the NAPE conference and elaborated on the team's activities.

During their field operations, the team conducted physical inspections of 14 out of the 28 screened wells. However, access to three other wells proved impossible due to their submerged status. On-site observations revealed instances of gas hissing from certain wells, alongside evidence of corrosion and vandalism affecting other facilities. Investigators are particularly scrutinizing one well, initially drilled for crude oil but subsequently shut down after yielding gas instead. This specific well is situated approximately 2.5 kilometers from the seepage location, prompting inquiries into whether it, or other nearby wells, is the source of the escaping gas. The distances between the seepage points and other wells under review range from 2.5 to three kilometers, within an area characterized by extensive hydrocarbon exploration.

The investigation has progressed beyond initial field observations to incorporate advanced scientific methodologies, including an independent fingerprinting exercise designed to ascertain the precise origin and chemical composition of the escaping gas. The NUPRC is employing sophisticated techniques such as Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and compositional field analysis to achieve this. Results from these detailed analyses are anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant milestone in the inquiry that commenced with the first reported bubbling incident in October 2025, leading to an independent fingerprinting campaign within 12 months.

A critical consideration arising from these investigations is the potential necessity for community resettlement. Should the ongoing studies conclude that the gas seepage is a result of a natural geological phenomenon, controlling the underground gas migration could become exceedingly difficult, potentially necessitating the evacuation of Bille community residents. This development unfolds amidst escalating concerns regarding the environmental and health implications for the riverine community, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the NUPRC's findings and subsequent actions.

Oil and gas companies operating in Rivers State, particularly near Bille community, must closely monitor NUPRC's ongoing investigation and classification of high-risk wells. These findings could trigger new regulatory compliance obligations, environmental liability assessments, potential community resettlement issues, and necessitate a review of operational safety protocols and emergency response plans to mitigate legal and reputational risks.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH.