An oil and gas industry consultant, Dr. Maurice Ibe, has said the recent suspension of the Oritsemeyin Rig licence by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) serves as a warning to upstream operators to strictly adhere to regulatory guidelines.
Dr. Ibe, who is the Group Executive Chairman of the Benham Group, made this statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
The NUPRC had revoked the operating licence previously granted to Selective Marine Services Limited for the Oritsemeyin Rig, instructing the company to halt all operations until it completes its current well operations. The directive was contained in a letter dated September 11, 2025, and signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe.
According to the Commission, the decision followed a comprehensive review of events during the drilling of the UDIBE-2 wellbore, where a “kick” was recorded resulting in significant non-productive time (NPT), additional operational costs, and a forced sidetrack of the well.
In addition to the licence revocation, the Oritsemeyin Rig was disqualified from all renewal processes in line with applicable legal provisions.
Reacting to the decision, Dr. Ibe said it was a clear signal to all operators in the upstream sector to maintain strict compliance with the standards outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
He stated that the NUPRC acted within its mandate under the PIA, which emphasizes adherence to good oilfield practices, safety measures, and technical competence.
“Oritsemeyin apparently did not adhere to standard operating procedures and protocols. The action of NUPRC is an indication of the importance and seriousness of the regulatory body to sanction erring operators and warn other upstream operators to strictly conform with the standards set in PIA 2021. Serious investors should applaud the action and appreciate NUPRC’s decisive action to prevent potential safety issues that can snowball into a major catastrophe for all,” he said.
A “kick” on an oil rig refers to the unwanted influx of formation fluids such as oil, gas, or water into the wellbore during drilling operations, typically due to a pressure imbalance. If not properly managed, it can escalate into a dangerous blowout, posing risks to personnel, equipment, and the environment.