Baghjan: Well capping ops resume in earnest after delay due to floods

Guwahati: After a brief delay due to the onset of floods, Oil India Limited (OIL) has resumed its operations to cap Well 5 of the Baghjan oil field in Tinkukia, Assam.

Due to incessant rain, debris removal job couldn't be taken up on June 27 and 28. The job was resumed again on June 29, and most of the debris removable with the help of MOL oilfield truck has been removed and shifted from the good plinth to debris laydown area.

4 loads of debris were removed yesterday from the well plinth. Additionally, the bulldozers and Athey wagon have been transported to the site for further debris removal to be carried out today. However, at the time of reporting, there was heavy rain at the site. "All out efforts are being made to enhance the pace of debris removal with all required equipment in place", OIL said.

OIL has reported that the development of another area near debris laydown area for Kill pumps are in progress as the earlier site got submerged underwater. Civil work at the site is carried out continuously as per respective requirements. OIL has further informed that equipment and accessories have been made ready at the site for filling of water reservoir and spraying/water jacketing and associated works.

At the same time, 4 trailers of portable deck mats and pins from Kolkata reached Duliajan and a Second Athey Wagon is being transferred to the site. Other equipment and materials are being transferred in a phased manner, depending on requirements and site conditions.

OIL said that the Environmental Impact Assessment by M/s ERM is in progress and the air quality and noise level monitoring was conducted at both the Baghjan Guijan area yesterday. The study will be continued until one week beyond the date of capping the well successfully. TERI study on samples for monitoring air quality and noise levels are being collected for analysis and recording of data at already installed analyzers is in progress.

The site preparation for the bioremediation job of sludge is also is being carried out by TERI, depending on weather and site conditions. A seismological study conducted by the CSIR-NEIST/NGRI recording is also in progress. Currently, 5 sets of sensors, including an accelerometer, are recording data.

At the same time, the surveys for the assessment of damage for compensation by the committee constituted by the District Administration is also in progress. Assessments for 36 more families were conducted yesterday in Doomdooma Circle making the total number of families surveyed to date in Doomdooma and Tinsukia Circle 720 families. A team of the Public Works D (Building) assessed the burnt houses along with the owners and village headman yesterday.

Meanwhile, OIL has reported cumulative production loss since of 8972 MT Crude oil and 11.55 MMSCM of natural gas since the blowout incident, due to bandhs and blockades.

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