The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Monday said that the ongoing fire at Ororo oilfield at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 95 is being investigated.

Mr Musa Idris, Director-General of NOSDRA, in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) confirmed that the fire outbreak started at the weekend.

He said that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the inferno had been convened.

“The well head of Ororo OML 95, operated by Guarantee Petroleum Co Limited, caught fire on Saturday.

“The company has engaged Halliburton and Chevron Nigeria Limited to assist it in extinguishing the fire.

“It will certainly take at least six weeks in the earliest to accomplish that.

“Chevron itself battled a similar fire outbreak on well head last year and  it took it eight weeks to extinguish the fire through an indirect well.

“Joint Investigation will, however, be carried out because of the emergency nature,” Idris said.

The NOSDRA D-G  stated that no life was lost in the incident as all crew were evacuated early.

The oilfield is located at the shallow offshore off the shoreline of Ondo near Ojumole.

The oil asset was operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited but acquired by  Guarantee Petroleum Co. Limited, an indigenous firm, following the divestment by Chevron from OML 95. (NAN)