Flood has hampered progress of well blowout control operation at Baghjan: OIL

• The Kill Pump area is completely flooded. OIL CMT Water Pump area is submerged with flood water, OIL said in an official statement

• The bridge in between Doomdooma and Baghjan road has been damaged due to heavy rainfall and all movement over the bridge has stopped

New Delhi: In the wake of heavy rainfall since the last three days, Tinsukia district in Assam has been badly hit by flood and the site of the well blowout in Baghjan has been inundated with floodwater, hampering the control operation. "The Kill Pump area is completely flooded. OIL CMT Water Pump area is submerged with floodwater. Dangori River has already started overflowing. 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 challenges in movement of men and material," OIL said in an official release on Thursday.

The bridge in between Doomdooma and Baghjan road has been damaged due to heavy rainfall and all movement over the bridge has stopped which is hampering the movement of men and material to Baghjan EPS. On request from OIL, Army personnel will assess the condition of the bridge to find out the next course of action, the oil PSU said.

Baghjan well blowout control operation: What's the current status?

At the time of filing this report, the progress of development of debris laydown area had been hampered, with 70 percent of the work completed, and the development of Kill Pump Area had progressed 35 percent. One more water pump was to be placed but could not be completed due to heavy rainfall and rising water level of Dangori River, said OIL. 

The OIL team has held a meeting with Singapore's Alert Disaster team, which is stationed in Baghjan currently, and ONGC-CMT team, to deliberate and plan out activities for the way ahead on emergency situations arising out of the flood at site and connecting roads. "The site has been inundated with floodwater, which is severely affecting progress and further planning of work," said the exploration and production company. The ALERT Team also visited the well site to reassess the site readiness post-flood situation to initiate the debris-clearing process.

OIL loses 8,428 MT crude oil production

Due to stoppage and blockades, there was a production loss of 88 MT of crude oil and 0.15 MMSCM of natural gas on June 24, said the statement. "Operations were disrupted at 14 oil wells and one gas well. Cumulative production loss since May 27 due to bandhs and blockades stands at 8,482 MT crude oil and 10.85 MMSCM of natural gas," it added.

Meanwhile, surveys for assessment of damage for compensation by the committee constituted by the district administration are in progress. Assessment for 500 families has been completed in Doomdooma and Tinsukia circle.

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