The operating licence of Oritsemeyin Rig has been revoked by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
NUPRC revoked the operating licence of the oil rig in a letter dated September 11, 2025, and addressed to its operator, Selective Marine Services Limited.
It also directed the oil rig to cease all operations upon the completion of its current well operations.
The letter, according to a statement by the Head, Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, was signed by the commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.
The statement made available to Saturday PUNCH read, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has revoked the operating licence of Oritsemeyin Rig and directed it to cease all operations upon the completion of its current well operations.”
Akinkuotu noted that the decision followed a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the drilling of the UDIBE-2 wellbore, during which a kick was recorded, resulting in several Non-Productive Time incidents with consequential cost implications and a forced well sidetrack.
A kick on an oil rig is the unwanted flow of formation fluids (oil, gas, or water) into the wellbore due to a temporary pressure imbalance, where the pressure inside the wellbore becomes lower than the formation pressure.
This phenomenon, if left unmanaged, can lead to a potentially catastrophic uncontrolled release of fluids called a blowout.
Subsequently, the NUPRC, in accordance with Section 97 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, issued a formal notice of culpability via a letter dated June 5, 2025, with a 21-day timeline, followed by a reminder dated July 9, 2025, to ensure an amicable resolution, which was not achieved even after the stipulated time.
“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 commission stated.
The upstream regulator also disqualified the Oritsemeyin Rig from all renewal protocols in strict compliance with the applicable provisions of the law.
The NUPRC noted that this action is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which empowers the commission to ensure compliance with good oilfield practices, international industry standards, operational safety, optimisation, promotion of technical excellence, and preservation of commercial and environmental sustainability.
The revocation of the Oritsemeyin Rig licence marks one of the most decisive enforcement actions by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which gave the agency sweeping powers to regulate technical, operational, and environmental standards in the upstream sector.
By invoking Section 97 of the PIA, the NUPRC is signalling that erring operators will no longer be indulged with extensions, serving as a warning to other drilling contractors and rig operators to strengthen their operational safety procedures, invest in proper training, and ensure strict adherence to international oilfield practices.
