The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has kicked off the recovery of spilled crude following leak from its Kolo Creek Manifold in the Otuesega community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.
According to the oil firm, the leak within the Kolo creek oil field operated by the SPDC in Bayelsa discharged some 27 barrels of Shell’s crude blend into the environment on April 15, 2015.
A joint investigative visit (JIV) conducted by officials of the SPDC, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, community representatives and oil industry regulators on April 16, concluded that the spill was caused by sabotage.
“Report of the joint investigative visit (JIV) at the Kolo Creek Manifold spill which occurred on April 15, 2015, has attributed the leak to sabotage of the facility. The investigation team, which visited the site on April 16 found that unknown persons had cut out a section of the metal protection to the manifold, removed components of the pressure control system and opened the isolation valves.This is what resulted to a spill. The volume of spilled oil was estimated at 27 barrels, affecting mainly the manifold grounds and part of the surrounding vegetation,” the statement read in part.
A visit to the oil spill site on Tuesday, April 28, showed that the oil spill response squad were at the site while oil recovery activities were ongoing at the field.
The oil workers were seen collecting the mopped up oil with 20 liter plastic containers and pouring them into large plastic tanks from where the crude is pumped into vacuum trucks and evacuated for re-processing.
