Gas
NUPRC prioritises 13 gas leak risks in Rivers State
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has classified 13 out of 28 screened wells as top-priority risks following ongoing investigations into persistent gas seepage in a Rivers State community.
Key points
- Thirteen wells were categorized as top-priority risks, comprising three very high and ten high risk classifications.
- The ongoing investigation includes physical inspections and an independent gas fingerprinting campaign.
- Officials warn that community relocation could become necessary if natural geological phenomena are confirmed as the cause.
What happened
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has evaluated 28 oil and gas wells located near reported seepage sites in Bille, situated within the Degema local government area of Rivers State. According to details shared during a technical presentation at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists annual event, authorities identified 13 locations as top-priority hazards, divided into three very high risks and ten high risks. An additional 15 wells were placed in medium-to-low risk categories as experts continue tracing the origin of the underground emissions.
First detected in October 2025, the bubbling gas has disrupted local livelihoods and created safety concerns through hissed emissions, corroded infrastructure, and compromised shallow wells. Joseph Ogunsola, director of subsurface development at the commission, noted that technical teams have physically inspected 14 wells, while three others remained submerged and inaccessible. Researchers are utilizing advanced analytical methods, including compositional field analysis and isotopic ratio mass spectrometry, to complete an independent fingerprinting campaign expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026.
What comes next
Investigators are specifically examining a nearby well drilled approximately 2.5 kilometres from the primary seepage zone, which was originally explored for oil before being shut down due to gas discoveries. Other surrounding infrastructure sits within a similar radius in a heavily explored, hydrocarbon-rich basin. While technical assessments proceed, the regulatory body and industry operators have distributed relief items, set up medical outreaches, and provided safety equipment to support impacted residents.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the complex environmental and safety challenges facing mature hydrocarbon provinces in the Niger Delta, where legacy infrastructure intersects with local communities. With fuel exports accounting for 85.9 percent of merchandise exports in 2025 according to World Bank figures, managing upstream environmental risks effectively remains critical for maintaining regulatory trust and protecting local populations. Policymakers and investors are closely watching the investigation's outcome, particularly regarding potential liabilities and the complex subsurface interventions required if natural geological pathways are proven to be the root cause.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
72.9% of electricity in Nigeria came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
