The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has revoked the operating licence of the Oritsemeyin Rig, directing it to cease all activities once its current well operations are concluded.
The decision was conveyed in a letter dated September 11, 2025, addressed to Selective Marine Services Limited (SMSL), owners of the rig, and signed by the Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.
According to the NUPRC, the revocation followed a review of the drilling of the UDIBE-2 wellbore, during which a “kick” occurred — an unwanted flow of formation fluids into the wellbore caused by pressure imbalance. The incident resulted in several Non-Productive Time (NPT) delays, additional costs, and ultimately a forced sidetrack of the well.
The regulator warned that if such kicks are not properly managed, they can escalate into catastrophic blowouts, leading to uncontrolled release of fluids.
The commission explained that it had earlier issued a notice of culpability to SMSL via a letter dated June 5, 2025, with a 21-day timeline for resolution. A reminder was also sent on July 9, 2025, but no resolution was reached within or beyond the stipulated period.
“Consequent upon the foregoing and pursuant to the relevant powers conferred on the Commission under the extant Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the annual licence to operate granted to Selective Marine Services Limited for the Oritsemeyin Rig is hereby revoked,” the NUPRC said in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu.
The commission further announced that the rig had been disqualified from all licence renewal processes, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
It stressed that the action aligns with its mandate to enforce operational safety, uphold international best practices, and ensure commercial and environmental sustainability in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
The owners of the rig have yet to respond to the development.
