On June 12 2020, A 3-member high-level committee was formed by the Petroleum Ministry to inquire the disaster at Oil India Ltd well in Assam. The panel will be headed by Director General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), SCL Das, other members of the panel include BC Bora former ONGC(Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) chairman and T K Sengupta former ONGC director.
The objective of the Panel: To identify the lapses in following laid down protocols and procedures which led to the incident and submit a report in a months time.
Note: The committee will also recommend short and long term measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
How did the disaster happen?
on May 27, 2020, a blowout occurred when natural gas mixed with condensate started flowing uncontrollably from one of the wells of Oil India Ltd (OIL) in Baghjan fields in Tinsukia district of Assam subsequently the well caught fire on June 8, 2020, spreading to about 200 m around the well and claiming two lives of OIL India firefighters.
What is being done to control the fire?
- Engineers and an expert team from Singapore based M/s Alert with Crisis Management Team and V.P. Mahawar, Ex-Director (Onshore) of ONGC with the efforts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been trying to tame the 4-day fire to the mouth of well, which needs capping to completely extinguish the fire.
- Evacuation of the people around the region is being done to ensure the safety of the people.
- OIL India has provided financial aid of Rs.30,000 to each of the affected families.
About the Petroleum Ministry:
The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is concerned with the exploration and production of Oil & Natural Gas, refining, distribution and marketing, import, export and conservation of petroleum products
Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas- Dharmendra Pradhan
