New Delhi: The gas leak from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) Rudrasagar field in Assam’s Sivasagar district has continued for seven days since it was first detected on June 12, with control operations still ongoing, the company said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
In an update on Wednesday, ONGC said its internal well control experts are “working round-the-clock” to contain the leak from well RDS#147A. The company has also initiated the process of mobilising an international well control agency to strengthen efforts at the site.
“ONGC is continuing its focused operations to control the gas flow from well RDS#147A. ONGC’s in-house well control experts are working round the clock and are in constant consultation with an international well control agency. The process to mobilise their team to the site of the incident has already been initiated to further strengthen efforts on the ground,” the company said.
The company did not provide a timeline for when the leak might be fully brought under control.
As part of its mitigation efforts, ONGC said it has “successfully connected the well to a nearby production facility, thereby diverting a portion of the gas in a controlled manner.” In addition, “water blanketing of the well is being continuously maintained” as an added safety measure.
The leak has raised concerns among nearby residents, but ONGC has maintained that the gas is non-toxic and that safety measures are being strictly followed. “A thorough analysis of the released gas has been carried out through sample collection, confirming that the gas is non-toxic in nature. Being lighter than air, the gas is dispersing upwards into higher altitudes, minimising risk to nearby habitations,” the statement said.
ONGC said the gas is composed of 97 percent methane. “The gas, composed of 97 percent methane, ascends to higher altitudes due to its lightness and does not settle down due to weight,” the company added.
Citing ongoing air quality monitoring by the Pollution Control Board, Assam, ONGC said that air quality parameters remain “within the permissible limit” under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009, laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The company also stated that noise levels from the well are being monitored and are “within acceptable limits beyond 500 metres.”
Since the onset of the gas leak on June 12, ONGC has maintained that no injuries have been reported. Emergency and safety protocols were activated immediately after the incident, with local authorities and emergency teams deployed to the site.
Reiterating its commitment to safety, ONGC said, “Safety of the community and the environment remains ONGC’s foremost priority, and all actions are being taken in accordance with regulatory guidelines and industry best practices.”
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)