The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has revoked the operating licence of Oritsemeyin Rig and directed it to cease all operations upon the completion of its current well operations.
The notice is contained in a letter dated September 11, 2025, addressed to Selective Marine Services Limited (SMSL) and signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Engineer GbengaKomolafe.
The NUPRC said in a statement on Friday 12 September, 2025 that the decision followed a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the drilling of UDIBE-2 wellbore during which a kick was recorded, resulting in several Non-Productive Time (NPT) with consequential cost 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 timeline of 21 days followed by a reminder dated July 9, 2025 to ensure an amicable resolution which was not achieved even beyond the stipulated time.
“Consequent upon the forgoing 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 forthwith.
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 and international best industry practices, operational safety, and optimization, as well as promote technical excellence and preserve commercial and environmental sustainability.
Rig Oritsetimeyin is a Friede and Goldman self-elevating cantilever jack up drilling rig manufactured in Sharjah, UAE by U.S. Co. Inc. and completed in 2008. The Rig was designed to operate 3000ft water depth to a rated drilling depth of 30,000ft; and it provides a drilling envelope of 50ft extended and 15ft on either side of the centre line. This enables the rig to access multiple wells on a platform without moving. Rig Oritsetimeyin is currently at Escravos, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Rig Onome is a sister rig to Oritsetimeyin, also a Friede and Goldman self-elevating cantilever jack up drilling rig built in Sharjah, UAE by Bake Marine Services and completed in 2009. The Rig was similarly designed to operate 3000ft water depth to a rated drilling depth of 30,000ft. Rig Onome is currently at Marina Jetty, Lagos, Nigeria.
