Kyari, Baru inspect oil drilling operation in Bauchi, Gombe

The outgoing Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, alongside his successor, Mr. Mele Kyari, at the weekend visited the oil drilling operation site in Kolmani River II well in Bauchi and Gombe states.

Baru said President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves through the exploration of the various inland basins across the country.

A statement by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted Baru as saying: “Expanding frontier basins exploration is one of the most important projects for Mr. President. He is fully convinced that the inland basins exploration holds the key to the next step of growing Nigeria’s crude oil reserves.”

The GMD noted that for an economy, which is heavily dependent on hydrocarbon production, there is need to continuously look for additional reserves to avoid depletion.

“Naturally, oil reserves deplete over time, and if you don’t replenish them, you will one day wake up to realise that you have nothing left to explore from the ground,” Baru said.

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He said the visit was part of the smooth transition at the corporation to fully brief Kyari on the progress of work at the drilling site.

“I cannot hand over the NNPC without bringing the new GMD here for him to appreciate the kind of activities going on at the area. I am well-briefed but he needs to be on top of developments here too. And from his comments and observations, I am convinced he has already keyed into the project, as envisioned by Mr. President,” Baru said.

The outgoing GMD said the visit with his successor brought a good omen to the Kolmani exploration site as the team of explorers recovered a “fish” stuck in a well at the depth of 13,400 feet after about three days of tedious and continuous “fishing”.

In drilling parlance, “fishing” is the process of retrieving an item stuck in a well in the course of drilling, while a “fish” is simply the recovered item.

Baru also lauded the professionalism of the exploration team in maintaining zero Loss Time Injury (LTI) during the operations.

He noted that with the level of commitment and dedication he had seen in the exploration team, he could not wait for Mr. President to light the first flame at the area, signifying the potential discovery of hydrocarbons.