DULIAJAN, June 3 - Gas flow remains out of control for the 8th consecutive days at the Oil India Ltd�s Baghjan BGR-5 well of Tinsukia district.
However, the joint crisis management expert team of OIL and ONGC has continued pumping of water to the well through the casing valve to minimize chances of fire.
Digging of water reservoir near well site and preparation of the area for placement of two 2500-gallon capacity pumps is also in progress to facilitate huge quantity of water that will be required at the time of capping of the well. According to information, the joint crisis management expert team has completed 60 per cent of the task. OIL has continued to mobilize necessary equipment for the purpose.
Today, a source confirmed the visit of crisis management experts Michael Ernest Allcorn and Craig Neil Duncan of Singapore based �M/s Alert Disaster Control� at the Baghjan blowout site.
According to information, a chartered flight from Singapore will pick up Michael Ernest Allcorn and then the flight will lead to Perth, Australia to pick up another expert from the field, Craig Neil Duncan. After picking up the two experts the flight will take off directly to Guwahati to do necessary immigration clearance. After reaching Guwahati, it has planned to take them to Baghjan blowout site. The two experts are expected to reach Baghjan BGR-5 well on June 4.
According to a reliable source of OIL, Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control had chalked out its strategy to send another expert from the field, Edward Harris MacLeod from Bangkok to contain the gas leak. But due to COVID-19 pandemic, the chartered flight facilities were not allowed by the Bangkok administration. Therefore, Edward Harris MacLeod will not be coming to the gas leak site now. Alert Disaster Control has made it clear that for now, the global firm required services of any two experts from the field, the source added.
The global crisis management firm plans to send another team of experts if Michael Ernest Allcorn and Craig Neil Duncan need further assistance to contain the gas flow.
It may be added here that OIL has been monitoring the safety and security measures to protect surrounding villagers and their properties. Protection of the environment would be paramount while carrying out the Well Control Operation.
Meanwhile, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), IAS Amar Nath reached Duliajan today and a review meeting was held at the DC�s office in Tinsukia with State Tea Tribes Welfare (Independent) Minister Sanjay Kishan. DC, SP( I/C) of Tinsukia district along with DFO, Tinsukia (Wildlife Division), officers from Assam State Pollution Control Board, Dibrugarh and senior officials from OIL participated in the meeting.
After the meeting, Amar Nath visited the well site today. The Human Resource and Business Development department Director of OIL, Biswajit Roy also accompanied MoPNG joint Secretary Amar Nath.
