SIVASAGAR, June 18: With gas continuing to leak from an ONGC crude oil well in Assam for the seventh straight day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday urged Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep S. Puri to direct the energy major to step up efforts to contain the blowout.
In a letter to Puri, Sarma said locals claimed that there has been “inadequate urgency and seriousness in ONGC’s response” while trying to contain the leak.
“Conveyed our concerns regarding the Barichuk Gas Blowout incident to Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji. I have requested him to direct @ONGC_ to step up well control efforts in mission mode so that the situation doesn’t aggravate further,” the CM said in a post on X.
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The state government is providing necessary relief to the affected people at this hour, but a more proactive approach is needed from ONGC to mitigate this situation to restore normalcy, he added.
The blowout took place on June 12 at Well No RDS 147 of Rig No SKP 135 of Rudrasagar oil field of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at Barichuk of Bhatiapar.
A private firm, SK Petro Services, was operating the well on behalf of the state-run Maharatna company.
In the letter, which was shared by Sarma along with the post, the CM said, “Despite ONGC’s ongoing well control efforts such as water blanketing, high-volume mud pumping and junk shots, pressure continues to persist and the well remains active.”
The prolonged nature of the incident is causing considerable distress in the surrounding villages, as already more than 330 families have been evacuated from their homes and are being supported by the state government with basic relief and safety measures, he added.
“While the District Administration and state agencies are fully engaged on the ground, I am constrained to convey that the local perception is one of inadequate urgency and seriousness in ONGC’s response. Unlike previous incidents handled with a war-footing, the current approach appears procedural and lacking in visibility,” Sarma said in the letter.
Talking about his visit to the affected site on Monday evening, the CM said he had assured the people of taking up their concerns at the highest level.
“I urge you to kindly direct ONGC to reinforce its technical and leadership presence on-site, adopt a more mission-mode approach, and step up engagement with the affected communities to restore confidence and bring the situation under control at the earliest,” Sarma told Puri.
The Assam government on Tuesday announced a financial aid of Rs 25,000 each to about 350 families affected by the blowout.
Puri also reviewed and took an update on well control activities being carried out by ONGC, which informed him that competent personnel have been brought from other work centres of the company to control the fire.
Meanwhile, a company official told PTI that uncontrolled leakage of gas is continuing from the well despite consistent efforts to control it.
“The well killing process is going on. The gas pressure has not increased in the last few days, and we hope for some good news soon,” he added.
Later in the day, ONGC issued a statement and said its in-house well control experts are working around the clock and are in constant consultation with an international well control agency.
“The process to mobilise their team at the site has already been initiated to further strengthen efforts on the ground,” it added.
ONGC has successfully connected the well to a nearby production facility, thereby diverting a portion of the gas in a controlled manner.
As an additional safety measure, water blanketing of the well is being continuously maintained.
According to the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB), the air quality parameters are within the permissible limit as per the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQ) standards by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
“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 company said.
The noise levels are also being continuously monitored and are within acceptable limits beyond 500 metres, it added.
“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,” the statement said.
An official of ONGC had earlier said that it was an old crude well without production, and a perforation job was going on for zone transfer at the time of the blowout.
“It is a kind of servicing of the well. Production was supposed to start from a new zone after the perforation job. At the time of the incident, the logging perforation operation was going on. Suddenly, gas started coming out in an uncontrolled manner immediately after the perforation, leading to the blowout,” he had added. (PTI)
