The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has classified 13 oil and gas wells around reported gas seepage locations in Bille community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, as high or very high risk, as investigations continue to establish the source of the emissions.
The assessment covered 28 wells within the area, identifying three as very high risk and 10 as high risk, while the remaining 15 were classified as medium to low risk.
The commission disclosed the findings in a statement on Friday, November 13, 2026, following a technical presentation at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).
The presentation, titled Unravelling Gas Seepage and Bubbling in Nigeria: The Integrated Study Approach Towards Source Attribution, was delivered by the NUPRC’s Director of Subsurface Development, Joseph Ogunsola, during a special technical session on Thursday.
According to reports by The Sun and Premium Times on November 13, Ogunsola, who was represented at the session by the commission’s Senior Manager, Onshore Frontier Development Drilling, Azibamikiomam John-Adumo, said the wells were screened based on their proximity to the seepage locations and the reservoirs encountered during drilling.
The investigation team physically inspected 14 wells but could not access three others because they were submerged.
During the inspections, officials observed gas hissing from some wells, while other facilities showed signs of corrosion and vandalism.
Ogunsola also disclosed that one of the wells under investigation was originally drilled for crude oil but was shut down after gas, rather than oil, was discovered. The well is approximately 2.5 kilometres from the seepage location, while other wells are between 2.5 and 3 kilometres away.
The commission is investigating whether the bubbling gas originates from these wells or from natural geological processes.
The first gas-bubbling incident in Bille was reported in October 2025, while the NUPRC activated a coordinated technical investigation in March 2026 to establish the source, assess potential causes and determine appropriate mitigation measures.
The scientific investigation includes Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and compositional field analysis to establish the gas’s chemical fingerprint and origin. Results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Ogunsola warned that residents could face evacuation if the investigation establishes that the seepage is caused by natural geological phenomena, as tracing underground gas migration pathways and designing effective interventions could be more challenging.
Meanwhile, the NUPRC and oil and gas operators have mobilised support for affected residents, including food supplies, medical outreach, potable water, firefighting vehicles and safety kits.
The investigation is expected to guide further action to address the seepage, protect residents and determine whether nearby oil and gas infrastructure is connected to the emissions.
