12 October 2011, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) says it is mobilizing for repair work on the Trans Forcados Pipeline which was shut down following a sabotage leak on October 6, this year.
Movement of equipment and materials by the repair contractor is in progress, and flushing of the 50-km pipeline is expected to commence by the weekend to clear hydrocarbon deposits before cutting and welding for replacement of the damaged section.
“If all goes according to plan, we expect to complete the repair as soon as possible and reopen the line,” said Vice President HSE and Corporate Affairs, Tony Attah.
He added: “It means the force majeure we declared on Forcados off take programme will be lifted late October/early November as soon as Forcados production has returned to normal levels.”
Shell had earlier declared force majeure on its Forcados export programme for October, November and December 2011 as a result of production shutdown due to a sabotage leak on the pipeline. The declaration took effect from Monday, this week.
The leak was reported on Thursday, and a Joint Investigation Team found that it was caused by explosive damage. SPDC is working to repair the pipeline and resume production as quickly as possible.
Spokesman of the company, Mr. Tony Okonedo who confirmed the development in a statement stated that the company has lifted the force majeure on Bonny Light export programme which was declared on 23rd August 2011.
