Report of the Joint Investigation Visit at the Kolo Creek Manifold spill in Bayelsa State, which occurred on April 15, 2015, has attributed the leak to sabotage of the facility.
The investigation team, which visited the site on April 16, found that unknown persons had cut out a section of the metal protection to the manifold, removed components of the pressure control system and opened the isolation valves, resulting in a spill.
The volume of spilled oil was estimated at 27 barrels, affecting mainly the manifold grounds and part of the surrounding vegetation.
The investigation was led by the regulators – NOSDRA and DPR – with the representatives of the Bayelsa State Ministry of the Environment, host communities and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
The SPDC stopped the leak soon after it occurred, deployed effective containment and began the recovery of oil.
No chemical dispersant has been applied.
The containment and oil recovery activities involved the use of booms, absorbent pads and vacuum truck for evacuation of recovered oil.
Oil spill response activities are continuing while remediation will commence after initial clean-up has been done.
Meanwhile, another leak/fire was reported on Monday on the Kolo Creek-Rumuekpe trunk line, about 5km from the manifold.
The fire has been extinguished.
Site observation confirmed a recently excavated ditch at the fire point.
The SPDC has expressed concern at the brazen damage of its facilities in parts of the Delta. It commended the Bayelsa State Government for its support and called on communities and other stakeholders to join hands in the efforts to discourage the trend.