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Published 15:23 IST, July 22nd 2020

Assam: Another explosion at Baghjan oil field, three foreign experts injured

A blast has been reported at the Baghjan well number 5 of Oil India Limited in Tinsukia district during operation to cap the well

Reported by: Prachi Mankani
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Over a month after the oil wells fire of Oil India Limited at Baghjan, a blast has been reported at the Baghjan well number 5 of Oil India Limited in Tinsukia district during operation to cap the well. The Baghjan oil field has a total of 22 producing wells -- 18 crude and four gas. 

According to sources, 3 experts have sustained burn injuries. They were immediately rushed to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.

Well number 5 at Baghjan in Tinsukia district of Assam earlier caught fire on June 9, killing two of OIL's firefighters at the site.

READ: Baghjan fire: 11 Affected families receive compensation of Rs 20 Lakh each from Oil India

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Previous Baghjan-5 well incident

Set up by Oil India Limited in 2006, the Baghjan-5 well produces around 80,000 standard cubic metres per day of gas from a depth of 3,870 metres. The blowout at this well occurred on May 27 when two simultaneous operations- servicing of the top portion of the well and testing new sand in the well were going on. At least one dolphin and a variety of fish died as the residue of gas condensing after coming in contact with water spread to a distance of 5 km in the nearby areas. 

The well caught fire at around 1.14 pm on June 9. As per reports, the blaze was so huge that it could be seen from a distance of more than two km. The Indian Air Force deployed three fire tenders to douse the massive fire after a specific request from Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Oil India Limited (OIL) in a statement said that two of its employees, Durlov Gogoi and Tikheswar Gohain had died during the fire fighting operations. 

READ: Assam has immense potential for agri revolution: Sonowal

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Updated 15:23 IST, July 22nd 2020

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