Chevron completes drilling of relief well offshore Nigeria, then seals, abandons shallow water natural gas well
Chevron Corporation said that its subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has sealed and abandoned the shallow water Funiwa 1A natural gas well after completing the drilling of a relief well. Production at the North Apoi field, which had been shut in as a precaution, has also been restored and the field is now producing approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day. The background is as follows:
On Jan. 16, 2012, a fire started aboard the shallow-water jack-up drilling rig KS Endeavor. Contracted by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Limited, the rig was drilling a natural gas exploration well approximately six miles (10 km) off the coast of Nigeria and in roughly 40 feet (12 m) of water.
There were 154 personnel on the rig and a support barge, and 152 were safely evacuated. Tragically, the fire claimed two lives.
On March 2, the fire at the well was extinguished when a portion of the well sealed itself.