High-pressure spillage in OIL’s oil well in Assam enters day 3; Officials assure safety
First Published: 21st October, 2023 12:14 IST
The fluid comprises primarily water and sand particles, and, importantly, no gas has been detected thus far, OIL officials at the site in Duliajan said
A high-pressure spillage of fluids from a well operated by Oil India Limited (OIL) at Dirial in eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh district has entered its third day today leaving local residents anxious.
Despite their relentless best efforts, OIL has not yet managed to stop the leak.
OIL spokesperson Bhairob Bhuyan told Northeast Live that there is no gas or oil leakage but rather an issue of fluid erupting from the reservoir with significant pressure. This fluid comprises primarily water and sand particles, and, importantly, no gas has been detected thus far.
Bhairob Bhuyan said, “This is not a gas or oil leakage, it is basically fluid coming out of the reservoir with very high pressure, so there is water and sand particles in there. There is no gas till now. Last night we tried up to 4 am in the morning but could not complete the work, though we managed to accomplish nearly 70% of the task due to the immense pressure from the reservoir. It is somewhat challenging to secure the X-mass tree, so we plan to resume operations at 10 a.m. There is no threat to the locals. We have not advised the locals to cease using gas cylinders or lighting fires to cook food, as there is no gas emanating from the site. We have marked our operation area, and this is where we are currently working.”
An on-site task force is coordinating the activities on the ground so as to control the water flow, cap and restore the well in close coordination with the local authorities. OIL declared the site as an emergency area on Friday after the incident. Consequent to the declaration of emergency, executives and employees of the department, who had applied for leaves (including station leaves) were asked not to proceed on leave and remain in the station till further advice.
The incident, which began on the evening of October 19, 2023, has raised concerns among local residents, primarily due to the intense noise generated by the well. While OIL has assured that the fluids are not harmful, the situation could potentially become volatile if not addressed promptly.
OIL has taken legal action by lodging a First Information Report (FIR) with local police and notifying the District Administration Authority of the situation. The well, located in a depleted reservoir in the Bordubi area, had been in a shut-in condition since 2016.
As OIL continues its efforts to bring the situation under control, the community remains on edge, hoping for a swift resolution to this concerning incident.
Also Read : Assam: Govt hands over Rs 2 lakh grant to 181 ex-NLFB cadres
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Search continues for Iranian President’s helicopter crash site amid conflicting reports
20th May 2024Live Manchester City makes history, wins 4th Premier League title in a row
20th May 2024Live Phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls to decide fate of Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Rajnath Singh among others
20th May 2024Live #NEWeatherUpdate: IMD predicts rainfall in 7 NE states in next 5 days
19th May 2024WE RECOMMEND
Assam: Is Cachar dist a new hotspot for drug smugglers? Drugs worth over Rs 120 cr seized in less than 20 days
In the latest seizure, heroin worth a whopping Rs 105 crore was recovered from the possession of 3 individuals who were coming from Mizoram.
19th May 2024Mobile phone explodes in man’s trouser pocket, sustains burn injuries
He suffered some serious burn injuries on his right leg and genital area.
19th May 2024IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders match In Guwahati tomorrow
The top run scorer for Rajasthan Royals in the competition is Riyan Parag with 531 runs, smacking 4 half-centuries to his name.
18th May 2024Fire in Silchar computer institute, girl jumps from 4th floor
Cachar SP Numal Mahatta informed that at least 8 fire tenders along with fire brigade and ONGC plunged into action and control the flames.
18th May 2024Territorial Army organises mass plantation drive to kickstart platinum jubilee in Assam’s Sonitpur
The mass plantation drive is just the beginning of a series of events planned throughout the Platinum Jubilee Year to promote environmental awareness and sustainability.
17th May 2024