A gas leak has been identified at a well within the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, located offshore Senegal and Mauritania, according to statements from BP and Mauritania’s environment ministry on Wednesday.
BP confirmed that the environmental impact of the leak is expected to be minimal and assured that production activities would not be disrupted. The GTA project, developed in partnership with U.S.-based Kosmos Energy, began producing gas earlier this year.
In an email to Reuters, BP explained that the leak was detected during a planned commissioning test. "We observed low-rate subsea gas bubbles at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim A02 well," the company stated. "We have a plan in place to stop the bubbles."
Mauritania’s environment ministry issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to addressing the issue. The ministry is conducting thorough investigations to manage the situation effectively and prevent any environmental damage. It is collaborating closely with Mauritania’s oil and fisheries ministries, as well as Senegalese authorities.
Ahmed Vall Ould Mohameden, an adviser to Mauritania’s oil ministry, noted that such incidents are not uncommon during the initial stages of production. "Last week, a plane carrying equipment to plug the leak was dispatched to the site for repairs," Mohameden told Reuters.
The GTA project, a floating facility situated on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, is expected to produce 2.3 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually during its first phase.