NUPRC probes gas bubbling incidents in Rivers community

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has expressed concern over the gas bubbling incident in Bille Community, Rivers State. A statement by the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, assured the community and the public of its utmost commitment to coordinating industry efforts to address the situation. While stating that the commission empathises […]

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has expressed concern over the gas bubbling incident in Bille Community, Rivers State.

A statement by the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, assured the community and the public of its utmost commitment to coordinating industry efforts to address the situation.

While stating that the commission empathises with the community and acknowledges the concerns of the development, she said an investigation has been launched to identify the issue to provide a lasting solution to it.

“The situation was raised in relation to public safety, the environment and the health of the populace. The overall well-being of our communities and the protection of the environment remain paramount to the commission, as they are to Government.  Upon notification of the incident, the Commission activated a coordinated technical investigation process in line with established regulatory protocols to assess the nature and extent of the gas seepage, identify source(s) and potential cause(s), and propose immediate and long-term mitigation measures,” she said.

She added that the investigative study is being conducted in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure comprehensive, fact-based outcomes for long-term sustainability.

“Preliminary deductions and field observations indicate that the gas bubbling may be associated with a subsurface phenomenon that could be linked to a variety of triggers. Detailed geotechnical and geological analyses are ongoing to determine the contributing factor(s) and possible remedies for prompt implementation,” the NUPRC boss added.

The commission, therefore, assured the Bille community of its resolve to ensure that necessary actions required to address the situation are taken in line with applicable regulations, industry standards and global best practices.

“Once again, the Commission commiserates with the Bille Community as we work assiduously with all stakeholders to unravel the incident, and enjoins members of the community to maintain the commendable level of responsibility whilst adhering to all safety measures and public health advisories issued by the relevant authorities.”