DIBRUGARH, June 1 - Despite sincere efforts by the Crisis Management Team (CMT), natural gas continues to flow uncontrollably from OIL�s Baghjan oilwell, codenamed BGR-5. The well exploded last Wednesday morning, and ever since, has been spewing gas into the air. Fortunately there is no fire, but the accident has caused immense environmental pollution in the area.
The CMT members approached the well head taking all precautionary measures and opened the casing valve and started pumping water through the casing valve. Water is being pumped continuously through the valve into the well head.
OIL�s Chairman and Managing Director, Sushil Chandra Mishra, along with other directors and senior officials of the company, visited the Baghjan oilwell area on Sunday. They assured to provide necessary support to the evacuated local population in the vicinity of the blow out well. The OIL team was accompanied by the DC and SP of Tinsukia district.
Today, OIL CMD met local reporters of Duliajan, where he revealed that a show cause notice has been served on John Energy Pvt Limited, to find out the cause of the Baghjan oilwell mishap. This company was allotted the �workover contract� at Baghjan 5 to maintain the gas well.
Mishra also reassured that the company is equally concerned about the reported impact on the bio diversity of the area (near the Baghjan oilfields) for which the company is awaiting the observations and findings of District Administration, Forest department and the Pollution Control Board so that all necessary steps can be taken. He said OIL�s Safety and Environment department are continuously monitoring the ground situation and shall also engage an expert agency for monitoring the environmental impact due to the blow out.
He reaffirmed that OIL is not carrying out any operations within the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
OIL has also contacted Global Expert to control the blowout. Offers with action plan and time line received from three Global Experts (Boots and Coots, Alert and Wild Well Control)in Well Control Operation are being examined and under consideration.
To control the gas leak, an additional plot of land adjacent to the well site has been arranged to create a big reservoir of water and to place the Well Control equipment. Excavation of the pond has commenced today.
Around 650 families comprising 2500 persons approximately have been evacuated from the nearby affected areas.
They are camped in three relief camps set up at (i) Baghjan Dighulturrang M.E School. (ii) St. Joseph School - Baghjan Tea Estate and (iii) Gateline LP School, Dighultarrang.
A team of officials from OIL is at site to look after the relief camps. Ambulance with Para-Medical staffs are also kept on standby. Alternate relief camp at Bandarkhati High School, Bandarkhata Village has been kept ready as standby relief camp to accommodate more people, if required. Feed for cattle has been arranged through State Veterinary Department, according to an OIL official.
