Eni, Italian energy firm has confirmed an underwater gas leak and oil spill from an oil field operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Kalaba community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State.

Eni, parent company of NAOC which made the confirmation in an email, said it had shut down the oil well, which produces some 120 barrels of oil daily, feeding the leaking pipeline.

The oil and gas leakage is coming from an underwater gas pipeline beneath Taylor Creek at Kalaba community, Okordia Clan in Yenagoa council area of Bayelsa.

“I can confirm that on 21 February, we received reports of spill on the flow line from the Taylor Creek 1T well, in Nigeria.

“As soon as the event occurred, the well production was immediately stopped (120 barrel Eni’s share, mainly gas).

“Currently, a joint investigation visit (JIV) is being undertaken with representatives of the authorities and the communities involved ascertaining what went wrong and starting the repair activities and the pipeline recovery,” an Eni spokesman stated.

Residents of the community said that the gas leaking at high pressure was causing giant bubbles at the Taylor Creek which serves as the sole source of water to the communities.

Chief Roman Orukali, Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community had regretted that the incident had polluted the creeks and urged the oil firm to make contingency arrangements for water supply to the people.

“What we are seeing is the bubbling of gas leaking from the pipe of NOAC  was discovered in the early hours of Saturday.

“I got to hear about it first when some children alerted us that there was a leakage.

“As a trained field monitor, I also came around to see what was happening in the environment. When I pulled down here by canoe, I discovered that it was true; gas was actually bubbling.

“Incidentally, this Creek is our only source of drinking water and where we carry out almost all domestic activities. Right now, the water is polluted and we have nothing to fall back on, Agip should provide us water,” Orukali said.