The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has commenced investigations into 28 oil and gas wells around the locations where unusual gas seepage was reported in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The investigation is aimed at identifying the source of the gas bubbling and determining whether it is linked to nearby oil and gas wells or a natural geological occurrence.
The Commission disclosed that its initial assessment classified three of the 28 wells as very high-risk, 10 as high-risk, while the remaining 15 were categorised as medium- to low-risk.
The development was revealed during a special technical presentation at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).
The presentation, hosted by the NUPRC, was titled “Unravelling Gas Seepage and Bubbling in Nigeria: The Integrated Study Approach Towards Source Attribution.”
Speaking during the presentation, the Director of Subsurface Development at the NUPRC, Engr. Joseph Ogunsola, described the gas seepage as a relatively new phenomenon in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, explaining that the Commission had established a technical team to investigate the possible causes and identify what was happening beneath the affected locations.
Ogunsola, who was represented by the Senior Manager, Onshore Frontier Development Drilling, Dr Azibamikiomam John-Adumo, said investigations conducted in one of the affected areas had provided useful information about the underground geological structures.
He disclosed that one of the nearby wells was originally drilled in search of crude oil but was eventually shut down after gas, rather than oil, was discovered.
According to him, the well is located approximately 2.5 kilometres from the reported gas seepage location. However, the Commission is still investigating whether the well is responsible for the bubbling or whether the gas is coming from other nearby wells.
He added that other wells in the area are located between 2.5 and three kilometres from the seepage points.
The NUPRC director explained that Bille Community is situated within a highly explored hydrocarbon-bearing area, with several wells drilled in the surrounding locations.
He said the Commission selected the 28 wells for assessment based on their proximity to the affected locations and the underground reservoirs encountered during drilling operations.
As part of the investigation, the technical team physically visited 14 of the wells but could not gain access to three others because they were submerged.
During the inspections, officials reportedly observed gas escaping from some of the wells, while some oil and gas facilities were discovered to have suffered corrosion and vandalism.
Ogunsola further explained that the investigation had progressed significantly since the first gas bubbles were reported in October 2025.
He said the Commission had moved beyond the initial field observations to an independent scientific investigation designed to establish the chemical composition and possible origin of the escaping gas.
The independent investigation involves Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS), alongside compositional field analysis.
According to him, the results of the scientific tests are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 and are expected to provide more conclusive evidence about the source of the seepage.
Meanwhile, the NUPRC and relevant oil and gas operators have commenced support programmes for residents of the affected communities while investigations continue.
The interventions include the distribution of food supplies, medical outreach programmes, efforts to provide clean and safe drinking water, the deployment of fire-fighting vehicles and the provision of safety equipment.
The Commission also warned that if investigations eventually establish that the gas seepage is caused by a natural geological process, relocating residents from the affected areas may become necessary.
Ogunsola explained that a natural geological source could make it more difficult to trace the underground movement of the gas and develop appropriate technical solutions to stop the seepage.
He, however, assured residents that the Commission remained committed to conducting a speedy, coordinated and comprehensive investigation to establish the cause of the incident and determine the appropriate measures to protect lives, property and the environment.
The investigation comes amid growing concerns over the safety of residents and the potential environmental consequences of the persistent gas seepage in Bille Community.
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