13 Rivers Wells Rated High Risk as NUPRC Probes Gas Seepage

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has rated 13 of 28 wells near reported gas seepage sites in Bille, Rivers State, as high or very high risk. The other 15 wells were rated medium to low risk. The commission is still investigating the source of the seepage, first observed in October 2025. Investigators inspected 14 wells and heard gas hissing from some. Three other wells could not be reached because they were submerged. The team also found signs of corrosion or vandalism at some facilities. One nearby well, originally drilled to explore for oil, was shut in after gas was discovered. Independent testing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 will compare gas samples to help identify the source. NUPRC says it and operators have provided food, medical outreach, firefighting vehicles, safety kits and efforts to secure safe drinking water. Residents may need to be evacuated if the seepage is found to have a natural geological cause.

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