15 days needed to bring gas well fire under control, says ONGC

Fire at the ONGC’s gas well near Olpad town continued for the third day on Monday and the top officials of the oil and gas company said it would take at least a fortnight to douse the raging blaze.

ONGC Chairman and MD Dinesh K Sarraf along with Director-Onshore Ashok Varma are camping at the site to supervise the work. “Looking at the situation, we believe that it will take at least 15 days to control the fire,” Varma said.

According to a statement issued by ONGC, seven fire tenders have been deployed at the site, along with two trailer pumps. One more fire tender is being mobilised from Gandhar. This apart, high discharge water pumps are being mobilised from Vadodara and Rajahmundry.

In addition, water is being continuously sprayed over the well-head to keep the area cool so as not to let fire spread further, it said, adding that blaze is intentionally not being extinguished as the gushing out gas needs to be burnt at well-head till such time well stops flow of the gas.

ONGC said it has sought help of globally renowned oil and gas blow out control experts Boots & Coots from the US to control the blaze. They are expected to arrive at the site by Tuesday.

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. At least 12 ONGC employees had received burn injuries in the incident.