The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has officially revoked the operating licence of the Oritsemeyin Rig, following a series of operational lapses that violated safety and technical standards under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The directive, issued to Selective Marine Services Limited operators of the rig was conveyed in a formal letter dated September 11, 2025, and signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.
A statement released Friday by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communications at the Commission, confirmed that the rig must cease all operations immediately after completing its current well activities.
According to the Commission, the licence revocation stems from a comprehensive investigation into the drilling of the UDIBE-2 wellbore, where a dangerous “kick” incident occurred. In oilfield terms, a kick refers to the uncontrolled flow of formation fluids into the wellbore due to a pressure imbalance a potentially hazardous event that, if left unchecked, can escalate into a blowout.
The incident resulted in significant Non-Productive Time (NPT), incurred additional operational costs, and led to a forced sidetrack of the well — all pointing to poor well control management.
In line with Section 97 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the NUPRC had previously issued a Notice of Culpability on June 5, 2025, giving the operator 21 days to resolve the issues amicably. A follow-up reminder was sent on July 9, but no satisfactory resolution was achieved.
“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.
Additionally, the Oritsemeyin Rig has been disqualified from all future licence renewal processes, effectively removing it from further participation in Nigeria’s upstream operations.
This enforcement action is one of the most decisive since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, which empowers the Commission to enforce compliance with international best practices, safety protocols, and technical standards in Nigeria’s oil and gas exploration space.
“The NUPRC is taking a firm stand to protect operational integrity, technical excellence, environmental safety, and commercial sustainability,” the statement read.
By enforcing revocation without an extension, the Commission is sending a clear message to all industry operators: non-compliance with operational safety will not be tolerated. This move is expected to trigger a sector-wide reassessment of drilling safety protocols, training, and adherence to global oilfield practices.
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