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BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta

07 Feb 12 - 02:40 PM (#3303841)
Subject: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

A Chevron offshore natural gas well, drilling in the Niger Delta, caught fire four weeks ago and is damaging fish stocks and fouling beaches.

The fire is causing damage similar to that caused in the offshore U. S. Gulf Coast by the BP disaster.
Two workers were killed in the initial explosion.

Estimates are that it will take another month to control the fire.

Global Post, "Nigeria News: Chevron fire in Niger Delta enters week four." Heather Murdock, Feb. 6, 2012.
Bloomberg, Jan. 17, 2012, Edward Klump. "Chevron says two workers still missing as fire burns off Nigeria."

Other than initial reports, I have not found a detailed article or follow up news about the disaster.

07 Feb 12 - 03:02 PM (#3303855)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: maeve

This caught my eye, Q.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/293695/20120206/chevron-rig-fire-nigeria-environment-sick-delta.htm

07 Feb 12 - 03:10 PM (#3303859)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: GUEST,999

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/nigeria/120206/nigeria-news-chevron-fire-niger-delta-enters-week-four

07 Feb 12 - 03:12 PM (#3303861)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Desert Dancer

This is a shallow-water natural gas rig, so rather different in its effects from the U.S. Gulf coast disaster.

Today, from the Associated Press, in the Washington Post: "Dead fish, health problems emerge as Chevron rig off Nigeria continues to burn after accident"

Also today, from Discovery.com "Gas Rig Burn Pollutes Niger Delta"

Al Jazeera, Sunday: "Fear over Nigeria oil rig fire, Locals in Niger Delta complain of health problems, but Chevron says two-week-old blaze is causing no harm."

Chevron is in trouble for a deep water oil spill in Brazil last fall... Reuters, Jan. 6, 20: Exclusive: Chevron to face charges over Brazil spill
On November 7, a well drilled by Chevron using a Transocean rig 107 kilometers (73 miles) from the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, experienced a pressure "kick" after tapping into an oil reservoir in Frade.

An emergency blow-out preventer was activated, plugging the well 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) below the ocean surface. But days later, Chevron discovered oil seeps from the seafloor hundreds of meters from the plugged well. Pressure caused a breach of the well wall far beneath the seabed, allowing oil to infiltrate surrounding rock and work its way into the ocean, Chevron said.

~ Becky in Tucson

07 Feb 12 - 03:14 PM (#3303862)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Transocean (see BP Gulf of Mexico fire) ha been contracted to drill the "relief" well to snuff the fire.

Thanks, Maeve. I heard that on Aljazeera and BBC, but IB Times says the same in print.

I would like to know the depth, why controls did not work, etc. Someone at mudcat may have access to more technical reports.

07 Feb 12 - 03:19 PM (#3303866)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

The water may be shallow, but damage can be just as damaging.
I would like to know the drilling depth to the gas-bearing horizon, and how "wet" the gas is and amount of associated liquid oils.

07 Feb 12 - 03:42 PM (#3303878)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Gee- I need a better vocab.- damage can be damaging- please forgive me.

07 Feb 12 - 03:53 PM (#3303882)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: gnu

Sounded okay to me, Q. I got what you meant.

07 Feb 12 - 04:52 PM (#3303931)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Richard Bridge

Who owns Chevron and where are they based?

And who designed, who modified, and who fitted the blowout preventer?

Just in the interests of a level playing field, you understand.

07 Feb 12 - 05:46 PM (#3303979)
Subject: RE: BS: Oil Rig Fire, Niger Delta
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Chevron is the second-largest petroleum and energy corporation in the United States (next to ExxonMobil). They absorbed large companies like Texaco. Active in power transmission, coal, rare earths, thermal energy (largest in the geothermal field), etc.
Listed on the NY exchange, stockholder-owned like ExxonMobil.

I understand it has 40 percent of the well, the Nigerian government company has the rest (may be usual with Nigerian offshore arrangements).

Dunno details or the drilling situation, etc.

Chevron has a fairly good reputation in their N. Am. drilling, but they have problems with air quality around their refineries and in operations in Ecuador, Brazil, Angola, Bangladesh, etc. Cost-shaving like BP?. Their holdings in the gas fracturing areas is causing concern in the U. S.

They are also active in the Australian offshore natural gas play and are active in Kazakhstan.