Nigeria: Chevron Starts Drilling Relief Well to Seal Burning Funiwa

Chevron Nigeria Limited has begun the process of drilling a relief well to seal the Funiwa 1A natural gas well.

The relief well is being drilled to extinguish a fire that began Jan. 16  when 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 . 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.

Chevron drilling plans will enable the cementing and abandonment of the Funiwa 1A well. The relief well is being drilled by the Transocean Baltic rig with approvals from Nigerian authorities.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 19, 2012: Image: Chevron