A major oil spill off the coast of Nigeria in December 2011 has raised serious concerns about safety practices in the offshore oil industry. The incident began when a leak occurred in a pipeline connecting a production vessel to a tanker. Over three hours, the crew realized that more oil was being lost than was being transferred. An oily sheen appeared on the water, prompting the crew to shut off the flow. By that time, about 40,000 barrels of oil had spilled into the Atlantic Ocean, making it one of Nigeria’s worst environmental disasters in a decade.
The spill spread over an area of 685 square miles, which is twice the size of New York City. In response, Nigerian regulators fined Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) $3.6 billion, a penalty that the company is currently appealing.
A recent review of Shell’s fleet, including the Bonga vessel involved in the spill, revealed ongoing safety issues. An internal report from 2022 highlighted problems similar to those that contributed to the 2011 disaster. The review pointed out high-risk issues with oil transfer systems and noted that maintenance and safety standards were lacking across several ships.
Tony Cox, an accident investigator with extensive experience in offshore oil operations, expressed concern that the same transfer problems persisted more than a decade after the initial spill. He emphasized that these systems are known hazards in the industry.
Shell has stated that its safety record is improving, claiming a significant reduction in serious accidents and spills since 2018. However, the company did not confirm whether all recommendations from the safety review had been implemented.
The 2022 report also flagged issues on other Shell vessels, including severe corrosion on the Fluminense ship off Brazil and safety violations on the Prelude ship in Australia. These problems persisted even after regulators ordered improvements.
Whistleblower Irina Woodhead, a former safety engineer, raised alarms about safety failings on the Prelude, stating that safety systems failed to activate during a fire incident in 2021. She claimed that she was fired for blowing the whistle on these issues.
Safety surveys conducted among Shell workers over the years have shown a decline in perceptions of the company’s safety performance. Many workers expressed concerns about maintenance and resources on the Bonga, with some describing it as a "keg of gunpowder" due to the risks involved.
Despite Shell’s claims of improvement, the surveys indicated that a significant number of workers still felt that maintenance needed substantial improvement. Internal emails revealed that the company had previously set legal thresholds for addressing safety concerns but later eliminated these commitments.
Shell’s vice president for deep water operations defended the company’s safety culture, stating that it is focused on continuously improving safety practices. However, many remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures, given the ongoing safety issues and incidents reported across Shell’s fleet.
As the company appeals the hefty fine and faces scrutiny over its safety practices, the potential for future disasters looms large. The message from experts and whistleblowers is clear: without proper maintenance and oversight, the risks of catastrophic spills and accidents remain ever-present.