Chevron working on failed gas well

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ABUJA, Nigeria, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. supermajor Chevron announced that it started drilling a relief well to seal a faulty natural gas well that sparked a fire 6 miles off the Nigerian coast.

More than 150 rig workers were pulled from the K.S. Endeavor rig off the Nigerian coast in January after the rig partially collapsed. Chevron initially said it observed a small sheen from the area, which represented about 13 barrels of liquid.

The company announced its Nigerian subsidiary was drilling a relief well to extinguish a fire that began Jan. 16. Chevron said the fire was still burning as of early February. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Chevron's Nigerian subsidiary said it hired local residents to monitor areas beaches for possible contamination.

"To date there have been no reports of crude oil on the beaches," the company said in a statement.

It added that it offered food and other supplies to communities "to recognize the help and support that they have given the company."

Two rig workers were declared dead following a search-and-rescue operation.