The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC) on Friday mentioned it has revoked the working licence of Oritsemeyin Rig.
The NUPRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, in a press release, mentioned the fee directed it to stop all operations upon the completion of its present effectively operations.
Mr Akinkuotu mentioned, revocation discover is contained in a letter dated 11 September, addressed to Selective Marine Companies Restricted (SMSL) and signed by the Fee Chief Govt, Gbenga Komolafe.
Motive for revocation
The NUPRC mentioned the choice adopted a radical evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the drilling of UDIBE-2 wellbore throughout which a kick was recorded, leading to a number of Non-Productive Time (NPT) with consequential value and a compelled effectively sidetrack.
A kick on an oil rig is the undesirable move of formation fluids (oil, fuel, or water) into the wellbore because of a short lived stress imbalance, the place the stress contained in the wellbore turns into decrease than the formation stress.
This phenomenon, if left unmanaged, in keeping with the fee, can result in a probably catastrophic uncontrolled launch of fluids known as a blowout.
Subsequently, Mr Akinkuotu mentioned the NUPRC in accordance with Part 97 of the Petroleum Trade Act (PIA) 2021, issued a proper discover of culpability through a letter dated 5 June 2025 with a timeline of 21 days adopted by a reminder dated 9 July 2025 to make sure an amicable decision which was not achieved even past the stipulated time.
“Consequent upon the foregoing and pursuant to the related powers conferred on the fee beneath the extant Petroleum Trade Act 2021, the annual licence to function granted to Selective Marine Companies Restricted for the Oritsemeyin Rig is hereby revoked,” the NUPRC mentioned.
Disqualified from renewal
In response to the assertion, the NUPRC additionally disqualified the Oritsemeyin Rig from all renewal protocols in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the regulation forthwith.
The NUPRC famous that this motion is according to the PIA, 2021 which empowers the fee to make sure compliance with good oilfield and worldwide finest business practices, operational security and optimisation in addition to promote technical excellence and protect business and environmental sustainability.
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The Rig
Oritsetimeyin Rig is a Friede and Goldman self-elevating cantilever jack-up drilling rig inbuilt 2008 for working in deep water (as much as 3,000 ft) and rated for a drilling depth of 30,000 ft.
Its design permits it to drill a number of wells on a single platform with no need to maneuver.
