Another set of three foreign experts joined the Alert Disaster Control team on Saturday to conduct a joint recce at the Baghjan blowout site along with the disaster management team of Oil India Limited and ONGC in Assam’s Tinsukia.
On late Friday night well control specialists Matthew Connors from Vancouver in Canada, Anthony Steven Reynolds and Doug Dallas, both from Houston USA had reached Duliajan.
Earlier, three members of Alert Disaster Control, Singapore – Michael Ernest Allcorn, Craig Neil Duncan and Edward Harris MacLeod – had reached on June 8.
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Since the day of the blowout on May 27 and subsequent fire on June 9, the well has been spewing gas and condensate particles continuously.
Already two firemen have lost their lives in the gas well blaze.
Preliminary work of arranging facilities for well control operation has begun.
Two high discharge water pumps have been placed at the site.
Testing and commissioning of these pumps are planned for today after completion of connection of suction and delivery lines.
Filling of water in CMT reservoir (3000KL) from Dangori river is in progress.
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All equipment and other materials from ONGC-Sivasagar yard has reached Duliajan and unloading of same at OIL’s CMT yard is in progress for inspection by experts from the alert team.
Development of debris laydown area, site refuge and control area and CMT reservoir began from Saturday, OIL press statement stated.
“Land deal for laying water line to CMT reservoir (Capacity: 10000-12000 KL) and for placing kill pumps and flare pit is underway. Yesterday the land deal for debris laydown area, site refuge and control area and water reservoir was finalised with the help of DC Tinsukia. Vehicle carrying equipment from ONGC-Rajamundry crossed Kharagpur as per latest report of 08:00 hrs,” Oil statement added.
Earlier on Friday, Biswajit Roy, Director (HR&BD), OIL visited the relief camps along with Prasanta Barkakaty ED (HR&A), Jitmol Doley, DIG of police (north eastern region) and Shiladitya Chetia, SP Tinsukia and interacted with the camp inmates.
Over 7,000 people who were evacuated after the Baghjan blowout has bene provided shelter at 14 relief camps set up by Oil India Limited and the district administration.
According to OIL, they have suffered a production loss of 500 MT of crude oil from 23 oil wells and 0.46 MMSCM of natural gas from three gas wells on June 12 due to agitation programme by local people and various organizations.