ONGC has called the globally renowned oil and gas blow out control experts Boots & Coots from US to contain the crisis at well Olpad-31, which caught fire during repair maintenance job Yesterday. The experts are expected to reach the well site soon.

Meanwhile, ONGC's Crisis Management Team (CMT) has stepped up efforts to drill a relief well at a nearby place for which the foundation work has already been started. This well will be directionally drilled to reach the affected well sub-surface. This will allow CMT to plug the affected well at the bottom and stop further gas flow.

Water is being continuously sprayed over the wellhead to keep the area cool so as not to let fire spread further. Fire is intentionally not being extinguished as gas gushing out needs to be burned at wellhead till such time well stops flow of the gas.

Seven fire tenders have been deployed at the site, along with two trailer pumps. One more fire tender is being mobilized today from Gandhar. This apart, high discharge water pumps are being mobilized from Vadodara and Rajahmundry.

District administration, which has been providing all supports, has assured uninterrupted water supply to meet this contingency. Area has been cordoned off for ensure safety.

ONGC Director - Onshore Ashok Varma is camping at the site to supervise the work. CMD Dinesh K Sarraf has also reached Surat where the injured employees are getting medical treatment.

ONGC medical team including Chief Medical Services is looking after the hospital care for the injured. Out of nine admitted at the WellCare Hospital Surat, four are ONGC employees and rest five are from the crew of contracted rig which caught fire. While two burn injured patients are likely to be discharged soon, the condition of others is reported to be critical but stable. All the patients are constantly under medical supervision. Other three employees who are admitted to a different hospital at Surat were released yesterday itself.

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Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.
Corporate Communications, New Delhi,
Phone: +91-11-23320032
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Mail: ongcdelhicc@ongc.co.in