Oil India Ltd (OIL) has sought support from ONGC Crisis Management Team (CMT) and Singapore based firm Alert Disaster Control to extinguish fire at gas producing well Baghjan-5 under Baghjan Oilfield in Tinsukia district of Assam. 

 

It has been reported that except at the well plinth area, the fire around the site has mostly extinguished however, the burning of gas at the well mouth will continue till the well is capped.

 

The debris of burnt rig, fire engines and other material around the well site will be removed before any operation can be started to cap the well. Arrangements of continuous water supply will have to be made before activities are undertaken at the site which is likely to take 5-6 days and all the operations will take about 4 weeks to complete.

 

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Chief Minister of Assam has reviewed the situation with the Oil India, ONGC, international experts and MoPNG officials. 

 

The fire in around 200 meters periphery has completely burnt about 15 houses while another 10-15 houses have been partially affected. It is also reported that two firemen of Oil India have died. 

 

Around 1,600 families have been evacuated from the nearby affected areas and are camped in relief camps set up at nearby safe areas. OIL has decided to compensate Rs. 30,000 to each of the affected families as an immediate relief.

 

The well is located in the vicinity of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel, a wetland. OIL has engaged an accredited agency to carry out environmental impact in and around Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel.