Poor weather hampers efforts to control well blowout in Assam’s Baghjan: OIL

• OIL has engaged local fishermen with boat to identify oil spill, if any, in Maguri Matapung Beel

• Utmost care has been taken to arrest condensate spillage to surrounding areas, the PSU said

New Delhi: Poor weather conditions are hampering efforts to bring the well blowout at Baghjan in Assam's Tinsukia district under control as gas continues to flow uncontrollably, state-run exploration and production company OIL (Oil India Limited) said on Saturday. A well blowout, which means an uncontrolled escape of crude oil or natural gas from a well, happened at OIL's Baghjan well on May 27. OIL had outsourced the operation of the gas-producing well near the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, a biodiversity hotspot, to a Gujarat based E&P company, John Energy Private Limited.

"Poor weather condition is hampering the work progress for removal of equipment from well plinth and development of approach road for removing equipment from the site," said an official statement released by OIL.

Well blowout: OIL engages local fishermen to identify oil spill

OIL has engaged local fishermen with boat to identify oil spill, if any, in Maguri Matapung Beel — which is a large wetland located 3.8 Km away from Guijan Ghat, gateway of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve — so that immediate remedial action may be taken up as required. Meantime, one Guwahati-based firm has also been lined up for bio-remediation of oil spill in the area, said OIL.

"Associated Condensates coming out with the gas are water sprayed and collected in a pond near the well site itself and then safely transported to FHQ, Duliajan. Utmost care has been taken to arrest condensate spillage to surrounding areas. A Bund has been created around the well site to prevent the contaminated water runoff to surrounding and nearby water body," the statement said.

OIL says no loss of human lives because of the blowout

While noting that reports in certain sections of the media had claimed that four people had died in Natun Gaon (a nearby village) due to possible pollution from the blowout, OIL said, "No human life has been lost due to release of natural gas, crude oil spillage or condensate in OIL's operations in all these years. There is 24/7 paramedical staff at the relief camps and doctors are constantly addressing the health issues of the local people staying in the relief camps or visiting the mobile health camps in the relief camps. As on date, there is no report of any such very serious health issues due to the blowout. OIL has requested DC, Tinsukia, to investigate the matter so that the real cause of the deaths could be ascertained."