An explosion at Gbetiokun, OML 40 oil field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture has killed seven people.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru who stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday during the process of installing a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production.
Obateru stated that investigation into the the unfortunate incident, which caused 7 fatalities has commenced. He added that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the Industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.
The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers: Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, which are consultants to NPDC.
The Group’s spokesperson stated that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, in his condolence remark commiserated with the families of the bereaved, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones.
