Gas leak still on from OIL well in Assam

    Guwahati, Jun 4 (PTI) Gas is "uncontrollably"
flowing out of a natural gas producing well of Oil India Ltd
(OIL) in Assam after a blowout eight days ago and the public
sector undertaking on Thursday said an expert agency is
monitoring the environmental impact of the leak.
    Pumping of water to the well through the casing valve
is in progress to minimise chances of fire, a press release
issued by the PSU major said.
    On May 27, a major blowout took place at the OIL well
at Baghjan in Tinsukia district, next to Dibru Saikhowa
National Park, forcing the administration to evacuate
thousands of people living nearby to relief camps.
    Digging of water reservoir near the plinth of the well
is complete, an area for placement of pumps of 2,500 gallons
capacity is underway underway along with arrangement for
collection of the required quantity of water from the source,
the release said.
The company has called a Singapore-based firm which is
expected to reach the site shortly, it said.
    Building of an approach road is in progress at the
well site.
    A National Accreditation Board for Education and
Training (NABET) accredited consultant, engaged by the company
to carry out environment impact assessment study, has started
work at the site, the release said.
     The OIL has approached the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and the Wild Life Institute
of India, Dehradun for conducting detailed impact assessment
studies.
    The company's fire service unit is stationed at the
site for continuously water jacketing the well to avert any
eventuality, it said.
The presence of gas, air and water quality is being
monitored at constant interval at strategic points, besides
picking up layers of condensate deposited near the site.
    Ambulances with para-medical staff are on stand by and
a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been
mobilised to look after the relief operation.
    Fabrication and testing of equipment required for
controlling the well is taking place at OIL workshop as it has
been assessed that approach to the vicinity of the well would
not be safe due to gas gushing at high pressures.
    On May 29, the Assam Forest Department had issued a
notice to OIL after dead river dolphins and fish were found in
a lake nearby Dibru Saikhowa National Park and it was reported
that had died due to the blowout. PTI ESB
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)