Seplat Petroleum has investigated reports of hydrocarbons in some Delta State water wells and is providing assistance to locals.
The company was responding to a complaint from five households at Okpe and Sapele, in Nigeria’s Delta State. Alongside Seplat’s emergency team, representatives from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Delta State Ministry of Environment visited the site.
Seplat said it was providing drinkable water and secured the water wells. It expressed a commitment to supporting the investigation and providing support to the households.
The company checked other waterholes in the area and drilled more test holes. It did not discover any further signs of hydrocarbons. No oil leaks or seepages were traced back to Seplat’s operated facilities.
Seplat is “expediently investigating the root cause of the incident”, it said. The company went on to cite the importance of partnerships with local communities.
The local company has two blocks in Delta State, OML 38 and 41. The first has four producing fields, while the second has three producing fields, including Sapele.
Reports in local newspapers said residents of Maka street in the Sapele local government area had discovered oil in their wells three weeks ago. Some residents fled over concerns of an explosion.