Gas Leak Detected at BP’s GTA Project Off Senegal and Mauritania

DAKAR, Senegal — A gas leak has been detected at BP‘s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located offshore between Senegal and Mauritania. The incident, which occurred during planned commissioning tests at the GTA A02 well, was identified on February 19.

BP reported that low-rate subsea gas bubbles were discovered at the site. The company has mobilized technical teams to address the issue and stated that they have a plan in place to stop the leak. “As part of a planned commissioning test, we discovered low-rate subsea gas bubbles at the GTA A02 well. We have a plan to stop the bubbles,” the company said in a statement.

According to BP, the environmental impact of the leak is expected to be negligible. The company added that this situation will not disrupt ongoing production activities at other wells in the GTA project. However, the firm has not disclosed the volume of gas released or the estimated duration of the repairs.

Environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, have raised concerns about the incident, urging BP to make independent data concerning the leak public. “We call on BP to provide transparent information regarding the extent of the leak and their response efforts,” a Greenpeace spokesperson stated.

Local fishing communities have also expressed worries regarding potential contamination of marine resources. The Association of Artisanal Line Fishermen of Saint-Louis issued a statement highlighting the risk to the local economy from possible environmental degradation.

In response to the leak, the Mauritanian Ministry of Environment announced that it is collaborating with Senegalese authorities as part of an investigation into the incident. The objective of these efforts is to effectively manage the situation and minimize potential impacts on the marine ecosystem.

The GTA project, which is a partnership between BP and Kosmos Energy, Société des Pétroles du Sénégal (Petrosen), and Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH), is considered vital for the economic growth of Senegal and Mauritania. With an estimated production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, the project significantly contributes to the energy sector in both nations.

Despite this incident, BP confirmed that production at the GTA project continues as planned at other wells. First gas from the GTA project began flowing from wells to a floating production storage and offloading vessel on December 31, which marks a key phase in the project’s development.

As the situation develops, stakeholders are watching closely to ensure the environmental integrity of this crucial offshore project, which plays a significant role in regional energy security.