Chevron assesses damage, prepares to return to West Niger Delta oil fields

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Feb. 18 -- ChevronTexaco Corp. unit Chevron Nigeria Ltd., reported that it plans to return soon to the six West Niger Delta oilfields it shut in 11 months ago during violent civil unrest. Chevron operated the fields on behalf of itself and joint venture partner Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.

The company's return follows assurances by national and state governments that the area is secure and there is a lasting peace in the oil fields area.

Oil production, however, will not resume "for some time," ChevronTexaco said, pending damage assessment and restoration of production and transportation facilities.

Militants fighting in the Niger Delta area in the spring of 2003 had killed 100 people, damaged pipelines and other facilities and forced oil companies to curtail operations (OGJ Online, Mar. 24, 2003).