The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has released a detailed update following reports of a hydrocarbon seep in Nevren Tan, Beon Town, Grand Bassa County. The site, located within the Roberts–Bassa Basin and roughly 7.6 miles inland from the coastline, has become the focus of heightened public interest and ongoing scientific inquiry.
According to NOCAL, two technical field missions were immediately dispatched to the area to conduct seep reconnaissance, surface geological assessments, and baseline data collection. The corporation noted that this new development aligns with historical studies—particularly airborne gravity and magnetic surveys carried out in 2010 by Simba Energy, then the only onshore reconnaissance license holder. Those earlier surveys identified several oil seep occurrences, suggesting that the Roberts–Bassa Basin may hold commercially viable hydrocarbon potential.
Building on this historical foundation, NOCAL geoscientists, in collaboration with technicians from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), spent two days conducting intensive fieldwork. Their activities included soil sampling, geological mapping, and a comprehensive desktop review of past datasets. Preliminary assessments indicate that the reported seep location corresponds with the basin’s known structural and stratigraphic features.
Samples collected from the seep zone are now undergoing lab-based geochemical evaluations. These include API gravity testing to determine whether the fluid is sweet or sour, biomarker profiling, and other diagnostic analyses intended to clarify the fluid’s characteristics, origin, and possible migration pathways. NOCAL stated that a final determination will be made once all laboratory results have been completed and integrated.
Recognizing the national importance of the matter, NOCAL expressed gratitude for the public’s keen interest but cautioned government institutions, media outlets, community leaders, and public figures against sharing unverified or speculative information. The company warned that premature conclusions could compromise the scientific process and the credibility of the investigation.
NOCAL reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and assured that a comprehensive, evidence-based report will be released to the Liberian public as soon as all assessments and analyses are finalized.
