OIL begins final well killing operation; Baghjan gas leak to be curbed in 24-36 hrs

• The news comes after a nearly three-month-long struggle to contain the well blowout in Baghjan, Assam

• The team had placed the Blow Out Preventer (BOP) at the well head on August 17 in the third attempt

New Delhi: State-run Oil India Limited (OIL) has finally began the well-killing operation in Baghjan, Assam, on Tuesday, a day after successfully finishing the well capping operation on August 17. "After yesterday's successful capping operation, all arrangements for carrying out well-killing operation like connections of kill lines and choke manifold lines have been completed. Final killing operation (pumping in mud with high pressure into the well) is underway," said OIL in an official statement. The well killing operation is the final measure to cap the gas leakage from the well and takes about 24-36 hours.

The news comes after a nearly three-month-long struggle to contain the well blowout in Baghjan, Assam. The oil blowout has become one of the worst industrial disasters of the state since the well has been leaking gas continuously for 83 days now. The incident has been particularly dangerous because of the oilfield's proximity to the Dibru Saikhowa national park, which is a biodiversity hotspot, and the famous migratory bird habitat Maguri-Motapung Beel. A well blowout means an uncontrolled escape of crude oil or natural gas from an oil well. Oil and natural gas have been seeping into the nearby wetlands, which are home to a variety of species and the atmosphere, since May 27 and has killed animals in the vicinity.

Also read: Over 1.5 months on, no one knows when Baghjan gas leak will be capped

BOP was placed successfully in the third attempt

The OIL team engaged in the operation, along with an expert team from Singapore's Alert Disaster Control, had placed the Blow Out Preventer (BOP) at the well head on August 17 in the third attempt. Previous efforts to do the same were hampered by floods and heavy rainfall in Assam. Placing the BOP on the well was especially challenging for the authorities because of its weight and the risky working environment due to the heat emanating from the well because of the fire that has been burning since the June 9 explosion.

Loss of 30,104 MT of crude oil, 71.01 MMSCM of natural gas caused due to blockades

A total of 30,104 MT of crude oil and 71.01 MMSCM of natural gas have been lost as a result of protests, blockades, bandhs in and around Baghjan by locals since May 27, said OIL. "Oil and gas production still continues to be affected due to forceful closure of few oil and gas wells connected to Baghjan EPS. Drilling and workover operation also continue to be affected at few of the locations due to forceful closure of operation," said the statement.

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