Baghjan blowout control operations badly hit by rain & floods

Guwahati: After heavy rainfall for the last few days, the Baghjan oil field area has been badly hit by flood and the blowout site where control operation is being carried out has been inundated with floodwater, Oil India Limited (OIL) said in a statement today, adding that "it has been raining continuously and heavily".

The OIL said that all the river levels are rising constantly and flood water has entered the debris area and has inundated a large portion of it. "The walkable road from the debris area to Baghjan EPS is flooded with more than knee-deep water. The Kill Pump area is completely flooded. OIL CMT Water Pump area is submerged with floodwater. Dangori River is overflowing. The road from Tinsukia is inundated at 3 places. All connecting roads to the site have been submerged with floodwater. Currently, there is only one connecting road (Plastic Park Road) which is narrow at places resulting in big challenges in the movement of men and material", OIL elaborated further.

Additionally, OIL said that the site of helipad earmarked earlier cannot be used because of floodwater on the road. Actions are on to identify a new site for helipad towards Plastic Park, the oil major said.

Due to the unceasing rains, the Doomdooma-Baghjan bridge has also been affected and all movement over the bridge has been cut off. Although OIL contacted the Indian Army and carried out a joint assessment to ascertain if a Bailey Bridge could be constructed in the area, it was finally decided that the construction of a Bailey Bridge can be ascertained once the water level recedes.

At the same time, another bridge over Daisajan near Daisajan T.E. on Tiphuk Kordaiguri road is fast deteriorating too due to flood.

Despite the problems caused by floods, preparations are still going on to cap the well that has been spewing oil and gas since May 27 when there was a blowout. The packing element for casing hanger has reached OIL from Cameron, Singapore. As planned, debris removal activity began yesterday in spite of inclement weather conditions and civil work is also being carried on despite the hurdles. The fabrication of heat shields for bulldozers has also reached an advanced stage of completion.

At the same time, the development of additional plot of land in the debris laydown area, identified by the experts of M/s Alert, is also in progress. Many important equipment and materials for capping the well are in transit, but consignments have been delayed to a ban on day time movement of heavy vehicles.

The heavy rainfall and flood are also affecting the relief camps, OIL said, adding that the surveys for assessment of damage for compensation have been affected (assessment for 530 families has been completed in Doomdooma and Tinsukia Circle).

Meanwhile, OIL has reported the loss of 8570 MT Crude oil and 10.99 MMSCM of natural gas due to stoppage or blockades since the blowout.

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