OIL, ONGC, Alert Disaster team submit draft plan for plugging Assam gas leak to govt

• Equipment for the well blowout control operation are being mobilised, said OIL in a statement

• OIL said that it has incurred a loss of 638 MT of crude oil production from 66 oil wells and 0.46 MMSCMD of natural gas from 3 gas wells on June 11 due to blockade

New Delhi: State-run OIL (Oil India Limited) said on Friday that, alongwith the team of experts from Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control and ONGC, it has submitted a draft plan to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for plugging the gas leak in Tinsukia district of Assam. The oil well in Assam's Baghjan, which is owned by Oil India, has been leaking natural gas uncontrollably since May 27. And the gas had caught fire during cleaning operations on June 9, leading to a huge explosion. It took two days for firefighters to douse the flames. In the process, two fire personnel of OIL lost their lives.

The well blowout has become one of the worst industrial accidents of the times and Assam's worst oil well fire in a decade as it is yet to be controlled, despite efforts being made by ONGC, OIL, and foreign experts.

Assam gas leak: Equipment for control operation on the way, says OIL

In an official statement, OIL said, "The first load of equipment mobilised from ONGC-Sibsagar has reached Duliajan and will be sent to the site after inspection by the experts. Rest of the vehicles are expected to reach Duliajan today. Testing of pumps, engines and auxiliary equipment and laying of delivery lines required for sourcing of water from Dangori River are in progress."

It also said that Chandra Mohan Patowary, Assam's Transport, Industries and Commerce Minister, Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State of Food Processing, Terash Gowalla, an MLA in Assam, Tinsukia DC Bhaskar Pegu held a detailed discussion with Sushil Chandra Mishra, OIL CMD, and functional directors of OIL and Michael E Allcorn, an expert from Alert Disaster Control, in Duliajan on the present status and the action plan for capping the well.

OIL lost 638 MT of crude oil production on June 11 due to protests

The state-run exploration and production company said that it has incurred a loss of 638 MT of crude oil production from 66 oil wells and 0.46 MMSCMD of natural gas from three gas wells on June 11 due to blockade by local people and students' organisations at Makum, Barekuri, Hapjan, Lankashi, Nagajan, Hebeda and Dhakularea.

It also added that two more relief camps have been set up at Guijan and Dhelakhat area. "All the relief camps are being effectively provided with fooding, lodging, lighting, hygiene, toilet, drinking water and medical requirements with the help of the district administration and local student's organisations/associations," the statement said.