Baghjan fire update: ONGCL firefighter sustains injuries, no casualties reported

Guwahati: After a blazing inferno erupted at the Baghjan Oil Blowout site, Oil India Limited (OIL) has clarified that when the clearing operations were on at the well site, the well caught fire. Although no casualties have been reported, a firefighter from the ONGCL sustained minor injuries. Fire tenders are at the site controlling the spread of fire.

OIL, in its statement, informed that while chalking out the plans to control the blowout with the ALERT team in the morning, five options were presented by the ALERT team which included the "Capping Stack Guide Rail" Mechanism and "Ignite Well" options. ONGC & OIL teams had made considerable progress with the "Capping Stack Guide Rail" Mechanism and it was decided to proceed with the same. However, the current situation would be brought under control by the experts.

"There are violent protests around the well site. A request was made to the Chief Secretary and the district administration of Tinsukia for maintaining law and order so that the experts are allowed to enter the site and start the well-control operations", the OIL said, adding that all the officials of OIL/ONGC are being evacuated from nearby areas.

The OIL informed that the experts from ALERT and the staff of OIL/ONGC will move to the site once the situation returns to "normalcy". "Post the incident, emergency meetings are underway with ALERT Team. They have expressed that it is now a safe environment for working and are confident that the situation can be controlled and the well can be capped safely. The situation demands the arrangement of large quantities of water, installation of high discharge pumps, and removal of debris. All the operations as per ALERT will take about 4 weeks. Efforts will be made to reduce this timeframe as much as possible", said OIL.

Status of Activities for Well Control Operation at well no. Baghjan - 5:

Experts from Singapore based firm "M/s Alert Disaster Control" visited the well site on June 8 to assess the available facilities for well control operation and for preparation of the plan of action.

Initial testing was carried out for Hydraulically Driven Mechanical Transporter to be used for Well Control Operation at OIL's Engineering Workshop. Additional modifications are underway.

Testing of other well control equipment is in progress at OIL's Drilling Yard

Transfer of well killing equipment to the site is in progress

Composite arrangements for killing (subdue) of the well is in progress at the site

Civil work progress for preparation of the area for placement of High-Pressure Kill Pump, Mud tanks, Supercharger, etc. to be used for Well Control Operation: 95%

Civil work for earth filling, approach road, etc. for placement of other auxiliaries and creating enough space for vehicular movement in and around the site as well as riverbank site of water source is underway 24x7.

Removal of cranes, bunkhouses, tool bins from the well site plinth has been completed. Further clearing of the site of operation is in progress.

Arrangement for creating a water umbrella is in progress. The digging of water reservoir and preparation of placement of high capacity water pumps are in progress. Laying of delivery lines from the source to the site of operation is in progress.

Meanwhile, a team from Assam Agricultural University in Jorhat has reached Duliajan for an impact assessment on vegetation

It needs mention here that the blowout (an uncontrolled release of oil and gas due to the failure of pressure control systems) sent a fountain of crude oil rocketing into the air. A continuous spray of cold water is being used to cool down the leaking natural gas to prevent it from igniting and causing an explosion. Meanwhile, locals in the area continue to be on edge ever since the leak occurred. After the leak, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in and about 2,500 people have been taken to relief camps.

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