Assam: US Experts Begin High-Risk Operation to Cap Leaking ONGC Gas Well in Sivasagar

SIVASAGAR: A three-member team of American well-control specialists arrived in Sivasagar on Friday, June 20, to cap the leaking ONGC well RDS‑147A at Bhatiapar, where a persistent gas leak has posed fire and environmental risks for days.

The experts—Kenneth Wright, Robert Melancon, and William McDonald—inspected the site earlier on Friday to assess conditions before initiating the capping operation. The high-risk operation officially began, marking the first concrete step toward containing the leak after earlier efforts failed.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that the capping operation will begin on Saturday and is expected to take four to five days to complete. "ONGC has informed us that Plan A and Plan B to control the leak have failed. They are now moving to the final stage, permanently capping the well," CM Sarma told reporters in Guwahati.

ONGC, in coordination with the US team, is conducting the operation under strict safety measures. Water-blanketing and real-time gas monitoring continue as precautionary steps. Authorities remain alert as the joint effort progresses to stabilise the well and protect nearby areas.

However, CM Sarma voiced concern about the proximity of the leaking well to the Dikhow River. "The priority is to stop the leakage. If floodwaters come, the situation could become very dangerous. Later, an investigation should be conducted to identify those responsible for the incident," he said.

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