Assam blowout OIL may bring foreign experts to repair gas well

    Guwahati, Jun 1 (PTI) Even after five days of the
blowout, a natural gas producing well of the Oil India Limited
in Assam is flowing gas "uncontrollably" and the public sector
undertaking on Monday said it has contacted global experts to
repair the damage.
    Visiting the site with Tinsukia district
administration officials at Baghjan, Oil India Ltd (OIL)
Chairman and Managing Director Sushil Chandra Mishra said the
company is doing the best it can to control the well at the
earliest.
    "Oil India is in discussion with foreign experts and
will bring them to the site if necessary," he told Tinsukia
Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police after the
site visit.
    A major blowout took place on May 27 at a gas
producing well of OIL at Baghjan, next to Dibru Saikhowa
National Park, forcing the administration to evacuate around
2,500 people living nearby to three camps.
    The company in a statement said water is being pumped
continuously through the casing valve into the well which is
flowing gas "uncontrollably".
    "Offers with action plan and timeline received from
three global experts -- Boots and Coots, Alert and Wild Well
Control -- in well control operation are being examined and
under consideration," it added.
    OIL said a pipeline is being laid to bring water from
nearby Dibru river and a water reservoir is being made in a
piece of land adjacent to the well.
    At a press conference at OIL Field Headquarters in
Duliajan, Mishra said the company has already issued a show
cause notice to John Energy Pvt Ltd, the operator of the gas
well.
    "Actions will also be initiated on employees of OIL if
there is any prima facie evidence of human error, for which a
five-member inquiry committee has been formed," he added.
    Earlier, Mishra addressed a press conference in
Tinsukia and said the company is taking all measures to ensure
the safety of the local people.
    Replying to a query about the impact of the blowout on
the environment, he said the Assam forest department, the
Tinsukia district administration and OIL are taking stock of
the damage.
    "We are awaiting the observations and findings of the
district administration, forest department and pollution
control board so that all necessary steps can be taken," he
said.
    On May 29, the Assam Forest Department issued a notice
to OIL after dead river dolphins and fish are found in a lake
nearby Dibru Saikhowa National Park and it was reported that
they died due to the blowout.
    "OIL's safety and environment department are
continuously monitoring the ground situation and shall engage
an expert agency for monitoring the environmental impact due
to the blowout," Mishra added.
    The OIL CMD also assured the local people that the
company will look into the issue of providing them with
compensation. PTI TR
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)