(Adds Eni comment on export flows)
ABUJA, Feb 13 (Reuters) - An oil pipeline explosion in
Nigeria forced the local subsidiary of Italian oil major Eni
ENI.MI to close a pipeline feeding the Brass oil export
terminal, ENI and a security official said.
The explosion on Monday was caused by vandalism, Christina
Abiakam-Omanu, head of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps in the southern Bayelsa state in the Delta region, told
Reuters.
"The leakage aftermath of the explosion has been contained,"
she said on Wednesday, adding a suspect had been arrested.
An Eni spokeswoman said on Thursday the pipeline was in a
minor field and flow on the line had been halted for repair
work. But she said the incident had a "minimal" impact on
production, with the Brass export line still running.
The line transports crude to the Brass oil export terminal,
which industry analyst FGE said was expected to export around
90,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February.
There are nine flowstations along a 460-km (290-mile)
pipeline that feed the Brass terminal, according to information
published by Eni.