Assam: ONGC clears path for final snubbing operation at RDS 147A

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), in collaboration with international well control experts from CUDD Pressure Control, marked a significant breakthrough on Thursday in its ongoing operations at Well RDS 147A. As of Thursday, all remaining rig materials, such as staircases, entangled wires, and structural debris, were fully cleared from the site. The critical operation culminated in the safe removal and dragging out of the rig substructure, providing direct and unhindered access to the wellhead and enabling the next phase: the snubbing operation.

Preparations for deploying snub lines and related equipment were underway. This phase includes the careful removal of the existing Blowout Preventer (BOP), which will be replaced with a new unit as part of the final well-capping strategy.

In a precisely-executed step earlier on Thursday, hydraulic lines were successfully connected to the current BOP, enabling pressure activation and ram operation. Notably, this was achieved without any increase in gas discharge, affirming ONGC’s accurate technical assessment and demonstrating the effectiveness of its pressure analysis and operational planning.

Favourable weather conditions provided a further boost to progress, allowing field teams to maximize productivity during the dry window. Seamless coordination across teams enabled the execution of key activities with speed and precision.

In another positive development, the Dikhow river, previously a concern due to flooding, has begun to recede, improving site accessibility and easing logistical challenges.

With these developments, ONGC is moving toward executing the snubbing operation and aims to complete the task by sundown on June 27.

This update was issued in an official press release by Corporate Communications, ONGC, New Delhi.

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