ONGC well blowout in Assam: Gas leak remains uncontrolled for second day; no casualties reported | India News
A blowout at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) crude well in Assam’s Sivasagar district continued flowing uncontrollably for the second day. Officials on Friday confirmed that no injuries have been reported, and emergency protocols remain in place. The incident occurred at Well No. RDS 147A, operated by private firm SK Petro Services on behalf of ONGC, at the Rudrasagar oil field in Bhatiapar. The gas leak began on Thursday during a servicing operation involving a zone transfer perforation at the inactive crude well. “The situation remains the same as yesterday. The well has not caught fire yet and no one is injured in the incident. All emergency services have been pressed in the area,” an ONGC official told PTI.The state-run Maharatna company, ONGC said in a statement, “Upon detection, ONGC immediately activated standard safety protocols. The site was promptly secured, and an emergency response team led by the Asset Manager reached the location without delay.”“The situation is now fully under control.” However, a second statement later in the day confirmed that the well continues to release gas and that efforts are ongoing to bring it under control. “The crisis management team of ONGC is on the job, laying out the necessary equipment for bringing the well under control. The required fluids for the subdue operation have been made ready and the next step in the operation is expected to start at daybreak tomorrow,” it said. Access to the site has been restricted to authorised personnel due to the continued risk of gas in the area. While the well is undergoing a killing operation, nearby residents have expressed fears of a possible explosion and some have temporarily left their homes. An ONGC official said that it was an old crude well not in production. During a logging perforation, gas suddenly started coming out in an uncontrolled manner, leading to the blowout.” The incident has stirred memories of the devastating Baghjan blowout in 2020, when an OIL well in Assam’s Tinsukia district spewed gas for 173 days and caught fire, claiming three lives and injuring several others. ONGC said it was committed to safety and environmental responsibility. “Ensuring the safety of our personnel and the surrounding areas continues to be our utmost priority,” the company said. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blowout.
