At least 5000 cubic feet of gas is burnt daily in the Amorji Nike, Emene Enugu gas well fire, an official of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR has said.
The fire began on Tuesday after a huge gas reserve was discovered during a search for water at the Caritas University.
It has burnt for the sixth day after all efforts by the Enugu State and Federal Fire Services failed to quench it.
An official of DPR who spoke to StandardObsevers on the conditions of anonymity said the fire service lacks the technical expertise to put off the fire.
He said only companies skilled in putting off oil and gas fires can put off the fire, adding that there are only two of such companies in Nigeria presently.
He said: “From what I saw, from the intensity of the flame, the fire service does not have the technical expertise to put it off.
“Only companies skilled at tackling oil and gas well fires can put off that fire.
“Also from my estimate, and from the intensity of the fire which can be seen even from a helicopter, at least 5000 cubic feet of gas is consumed every minute in that fire.
“If you multiply that by 60 minutes and multiplied by 24 hours, you will have more than 6 million cubic feet of gas burnt daily and that is a waste of resources”.
On what will happen if the fire is not put off, he said “The fire will continue to burn for years, even decades till the gas supplying it with fuel is exhausted.
“If it is a huge gas reserve like I’m suspecting based on the feet upon which it was discovered, then it might last for over 50 years.” he said.
