Barely one week after it was attacked by vandals on March 29, the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline has been vandalised and set ablaze, disrupting the firm’s gas export schedule from oilfields in Bayelsa State
The breach of the pipeline operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) cuts the oil firm’s gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas gathering and processing plant.
The vandalised point, located within Okaka and Azikoro in Yenagoa Council, was engulfed by fire on Wednesday.
Mr. Idris Musa, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) confirmed the incident yesterday.
The spills response agency had on March 30 said its investigations revealed a rising spate of sabotage-induced oil and gas leaks at oilfields in Bayelsa.
Musa had raised the alarm that three sabotage incidents had occurred on oil and gas facilities in Bayelsa within one week and advised operators to reinforce surveillance.
The NOSDRA boss explained that a few days after fixing the gas pipeline, vandals blew up the pipeline again and it went up in flames.
“There was a gas leak last week from a vandalised gas pipeline OB-OB/Ogboinbiri pipeline at Okaka in Bayelsa State.
“The pipeline was repaired but unfortunately vandalised again, thus resulting in fire.
“The Nigerian Agip Oil Company is working actively to depressurise the pipeline to effect repairs on the pipeline,” Musa said.
Officials of NAOC declined to comment on the incident.
The fire at the site, which had forced surrounding vegetation to wither, has not been put out as of yesterday morning.
