Debris removal underway at Assam gas well site

Efforts to remove debris and douse blaze at damd OIL gas well in Assam's Tinsukia district resumed with improvement in wear on Tuesday, after remaining suspended for three days due to rising floodwater at site.

Oil India Limited's well number 5 at Baghjan has been spewing gas uncontrollably for 35 days after a blowout and later it caught fire on June 9 killing two firefighters.

Authorities have been trying to douse fire and control spill but ir efforts have been hampered by monsoon rains and due to floodwater entering site.

Flooding and heavy rainfall damd connecting roads, causing delay in moving equipment to site. All efforts to douse blaze had been suspended since June 27.

As wer improve on Tuesday, operation resumed and loads of debris were removed from well plinth and laydown areas, Oil India Ltd said in a statement.

An ONGC water pump has been commissioned while ar has been replaced. Connection of suction and delivery lines to pump has been completed and testing is in progress, PSU major said, adding equipment are being transferred in a phased manner.

"Civil work for building safe walkways, passs in and around site in submerged areas and temporary sheds for equipment are being carried out continuously as per requirement," it said.

committee formed by district administration has conducted surveys at site for dam assessment and for providing compensation. As many as 684 families have been surveyed in Doomdooma and Tinsukia Circle till Monday, it said.

About impact of protests on oil and gas production, PSU said, "Due to stopp/blockades, re was production loss of 80 MT of crude oil and 0.13 MMSCM of natural gas as reported on June 29. Operations were disrupted in 12 oil wells and one gas well.

"Cumulative production loss since May 27 due to bandhs and blockades is 8,912 MT crude oil and 11.51 MMSCM of natural gas.