Nigeria’s Aiteo reports major oil spill in Niger Delta

Nigeria’s Aiteo reports major oil spill in Niger Delta

London, 10 November (Argus) — Nigerian oil firm Aiteo has reported a major oil spill at a well in the Niger delta.

The company said it identified the spill from a non-producing wellhead in the Santa Barbara South field in block OML 29 on 5 November. It describes the spill as "of an extremely high order" and said the cause is under investigation.

The spill has yet to be contained, according to Nigeria's spill response agency Nosdra. Agency officials visited the site on 6 November, along with members of the upstream petroleum regulatory commission, the environment ministry and community representatives. "Recovery of free phase oil was ongoing as at the time of this visit ... Aiteo was also directed to deploy more booms to contain the spilled crude oil," Nosdra said.