NNPC: Seismic Work by Our Subsidiary Not Responsible for NLNG Pipeline Explosion

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Friday said that seismic work being conducted by its subsidiary, the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), cannot be linked to the pipeline explosion which affected one of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited’s (NLNG) pipeline in Emohua area of Rivers State because the site of its operation is 798 metres away from the blast site.

NNPC said in a statement from its Group General Manager Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja that IDSL’s operation crew, which was engaged in acquiring seismic data for Shell Petrolem Development Company (SPDC) in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17/22 ROBO 3D prospect, observed approved safe distance standards contained in the Department of Petroleum Resources’ (DPR) regulations and as such could not be the cause of the blast.

NLNG said an explosion occurred in the afternoon of February 22, 2017 on a section of the Right of Way housing two gas transmission pipelines, one of which belongs to it.

But the IDSL said in the NNPC’s statement: “Our activities involve the use of seismic explosives of size 2kg and detonators. The drilled and exploded depth is 45 metres. At this depth, the effect on the surface cannot affect any structure.”

More to come…