NNRA CONDUCTS ABANDONMENT INSPECTION AT FIRST E&P LIMITED OIL RIG FACILITY

NNRA CONDUCTS ABANDONMENT INSPECTION AT FIRST E&P LIMITED OIL RIG FACILITY

Two senior NNRA inspectors, Dr. Ben Esendu and Mr. Patrick Solomon, conducted an inspection in early February 2026 and witnessed the abandonment of radioactive sources at FIRST Exploration, Production and Development Company Limited (FIRST E&P) in accordance with Section 10C of the Petroleum Industry Act. As the site is offshore, the inspectors ferried by helicopter for the inspection

First E&P Limited is an NNRA licensed entity and an indigenous Oil and Gas producing company who acquired a marginal field from Chevron and uses the services of Contractors for drilling and other related activities that involve the use of radiation generating equipment’s and radioactive sources for Well Logging.

Three companies were involved in the successful abandonment operations; First E&P Limited the well-owner, Shelf Drilling Limited the rig owner and Halliburton Energy Services the owner of the radiation generating equipment’s and radioactive sources.

The inspection aimed to ensure full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, Nigerian Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations, 2023, Nigerian Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) Regulations, 2008, Nigerian Radiation Safety in Nuclear Well Logging Regulations, 2008, and the Nigerian Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Regulations, 2023.