Baghjan oil well capped in 3rd attempt under Doomdooma LAC in Tinsukia

TINSUKIA/DOOMDOOMA: After two unsuccessful attempts to cap the Oil India Limited's (OIL) BGR-5 blowout well at Baghjan under Doomdooma LAC in Tinsukia district, OIL finally succeeded in capping the well on Monday.

A press release issued by OIL on Monday stated, "The well capping operation was initiated this morning and the capping Blow Out Preventor (BOP) Stack was successfully placed over the Well Head. The 16 studs have also been tightened. The preparations for killing operations are on. The BOP and the lines connected to it are being kept cool through continuous spraying of water."

When asked about the final killing of the well, OIL spokesperson Tridiv Hazarika told The Sentinel that 'killing fluid' (mud) would be pumped through the BOP with great pressure. Monday's successful step was initiated following inspection of the well head on Sunday after allowing sufficient setting time for the second instalment of liquid resin that was placed on the top of the casing slips in an attempt to create a temporary pack-off of the annular section. To put it plainly, various chemicals were poured into the wellhead basement to prepare the ground for initiation of its third such attempt for installation of the BOP.

On the other hand, as a precaution to its first unsuccessful attempt when the bulldozer had turned turtle and caused burn injuries to several personnel, including three foreign experts, the Athey Wagon and bulldozer were made ready for operation on Sunday after completion of load testing and necessary servicing. Once the mud (killing fluid) successfully prevents the spewing of gas from the wellhead, the valve inside the BOP through which the gases are allowed to come out now will be closed permanently, thus killing the wellhead that experienced blowout of gas uncontrollably since May 27.

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