Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As a way of curbing incessant well blowouts and equipment failure as well as the concomitant environmental damages in the Niger Delta region, an expert has charged oil operators to lookout for the integrity of their oil and gas facilities.
Recall that in the last 18 months both Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited as well as Eroton Exploration and Production Limited have experienced well blowouts which lasted several weeks discharging massive gas and crude oil into the Niger Delta creeks.
Similarly, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has also recorded leaks on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Ogoniland in recent times, which the company admitted was caused by operational failure.
Speaking, the Principal and Chief Executive of Petroleum Training Institute, Dr. Henry Adimula, explained that oil and gas operators must ensure their facilities are in a functional state before operations.
Adimula on the issue of sabotage, said the industry must engage members of host communities.
“First I think is to look for the root cause. What are the major problems, the challenges we are having in the environment today, oil spill here today or pipeline bursting there tomorrow and all of that.
” Now, one of the things I think that the industry can do is to look at the integrity of the facilities and also to ensure that the facilities are still in a state that they can still function, so that we don’t have pipeline bursting and all of that.
“Then also the issues of sabotage or damage to the critical infrastructure. The industry can do a lot by engaging local host communities. Another reason the PIA should be celebrated is entrusting the management of some of these things to the host communities themselves, so that when you have a say in the industry, now you are better able to protect that facility.
“Now when the activities have caused maybe pollution and all of that, there are so many government agencies that are charged with maybe remediation and managing the process.”
