03 February 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – US oil giant, Chevron, says the driiling of the relief well it plans for the site of last month’s rig fire off the coast of Nigeria, will take about 100 days to accomplish.
Two lives were lost in the fire at the Funiwa oil field, which engulfed and completely destroyed the KS Endeavor jackup rig.
Chevron has contracted a rig from Transocean Limited to drill the relief well, and has deployed additional experts to assist in getting the (burning) well under control.
“Based on the condition of the (burning) well, the safest way to control the well is to drill a relief well to kill the well at reservoir depth.”spokesman Scott Walker had said in a statement, announcing the plan for the relief well.
Chevron holds a 40 percent interest in the Nigerian well, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation holds the rest.