Energy think tank, Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR), has warned of an impending oil spillage in the Central Region if a 65 year old rig located at Saltpond in the region is not immediately decommissioned.
According to INSTEPR, the oil rig’s wellhead valves which are the primary locks securing the wellbore from flowing oil and gas back to surface as well as the oil production platform are currently severely pitted and rusted.
The think tank posits that, given the dilapidated state of the oil rig, should the wellhead valves or pipes or even the production platform fail, there will be an explosion and the subsequent release of the oil and gas build up in the well, pouring out around 150 barrels of crude oil daily into the sea located near the rig in the region.
Adding that, when the spillage eventually occurs, it will cost government billions of dollars to control and clean up the spillage.
“The Institute will want to draw the attention of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), GNPC and the Energy committee of Parliament to immediately supervise the decommissioning of this production platform ‘’Mr. Louie’’ before our worst nightmare happens,” averred INSTEPR.
Read details of press statement:
Press Release – Disaster to Hit Offshore by Fuaad Dodoo on Scribd
