Nigeria: Funiwa Fire Stops Burning

Chevron’s subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), announced that the fire at the site of the Funiwa 1A natural gas well offshore Nigeria ceased burning on Friday, March 2.

The well stopped flowing on its own.  Chevron says it has detected no natural gas flowing from the well since the fire ceased burning and is monitoring the area continuously.

On January 16, Chevron reported the fire outbreak aboard the K.S. Endeavor, a drilling rig offshore Nigeria operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Limited. The rig was drilling a natural gas exploration well, located in the Funiwa Field approximately six miles (10 kilometers) offshore and in approximately 40 feet (12 meters) of water . The blast killed two workers on the rig.

Seven days later, on January 23 , the company said that “no rig structure can be seen above the water”. No oil was spilled or has flowed from this natural gas well. The relief well is being drilled by the Transocean Baltic rig with approvals from Nigerian authorities.

Although the fire has been extinguished, Chevron  will continue to drill the relief well to permanently plug and abandon Funiwa 1A.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, March 6, 2012; Image: Chevron