Fire at rig off Nigeria has stopped

Lagos - Chevron Corp. says a natural gas fire at an offshore field near the coast of Nigeria that killed two people and destroyed a rig has stopped on its own.

Chevron spokesman Russell A. Johnson said on Tuesday the fire had stopped as gas from the site stopped flowing to the Atlantic Ocean's surface. Johnson said officials continued to monitor the Funiwa field off the coast of Nigeria's Bayelsa state to make sure it did not start again.

The fire at the Chevron rig began Jan. 16 and had burned unstopped until Friday. Chevron only confirmed the fire had been extinguished on Tuesday.

Johnson said Chevron would continue to dig a relief well to ensure the gas well remains closed. - Sapa-AP