NUPRC Revokes Licence of Oritsemeyin Rig, Orders Immediate Cessation of Operations
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has officially revoked the operating licence of the Oritsemeyin Rig, directing Selective Marine Services Limited (SMSL), its operator, to halt all activities upon completion of current well operations.
The revocation, communicated in a letter dated September 11, 2025, also bars the rig from any future licence renewal, marking a significant enforcement of NUPRC’s “drill or drop” policy.
This policy mandates that oil block licensees must either commence production promptly or relinquish their licences, ensuring that Nigeria’s oil resources are developed efficiently and on schedule.
The Oritsemeyin Rig, a Friede & Goldman self-elevating cantilever jack-up drilling unit completed in 2008, is capable of operating in water depths of up to 3,000 feet with a rated drilling depth of 30,000 feet. It is currently stationed at Escravos, Warri, Delta State.
A spokesperson for NUPRC highlighted that the action underscores the commission’s commitment to enforcing compliance and holding operators accountable in the upstream petroleum sector.
