Assam oil well fire: Steps taken to ensure environmental balance

The Central govt has taken several steps to cap the well and ensure that there is no further impact on the environment as the oil well in the vicinity of the two biodiversity hotspots, Dibru Saikhowa national park and Maguri Motapung beel (wetland).

Baghjan:Even as the fire at the oil well at Baghjan is continuing, the Central government has taken up several steps to cap the well as well as to ensure that there is no further impact on environment in the biodiversity rich area near the Dibru Saikhowa national park and Maguri Motapung beel (wetland).

A blow out took place at an active oil well in the vicinity of the two biodiversity hotspots on June 9, which led to death of two OIL staffers and damage of properties and agricultural fields in the area. About 7,000 people living in and around the area have been evacuated to safety.

"A team from M/s SPA, Mumbai visited well site on Wednesday to assess the site for placing Breathing Air Cascade system for safety of working personnel during well capping operation. The Indian Army from the 3 Corps Indian Army, had also been pressed into service to build a bailey bridge which can take the fire fighting officials near the well," a statement issued on Thursday said.

"Fabrication of 10 heat shields for Indian Army personnel is completed and fabrication of additional numbers of heat shields is in progress at OIL’s Engineering Workshop. Erection of heat shield in front of debris area is also in progress.Fabrication of other infrastructure required for well capping operation is in progress at OIL’s Engineering Workshop," the statement said.

"The survey for assessment of damage for compensation has also been initiated by the committee constituted by district administration," it said.

It may be mentioned here that the incident of fire in the oil well had also led to production loss of 406 MT of Crude Oil and 0.64 MMSCMD of Natural Gas as reported till Wednesday (June 17) and operations were disrupted in 31 Oil wells and 5 gas wells.

The government has also taken steps to ensure no further damage to the environment and said that a reputed consultant firm based in Mumbai had been engaged to carry out environment impact assessment study in the area.

"Experts team from the Energy Resource Institute (TERI) has also been engaged to place equipment for monitoring of air quality and noise level," the statement said adding that biomaterial sample developed in-house by R&D Department of OIL has been handed over to TERI for its mass production at TERI center at New Delhi.

A team from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – North East Institute of Science & Technology, Jorhat has also reached Tinsukia on Wednesday to study tremor report using seismological technique. "Installation of 5 seismometer stations to commence on Thursday and recce to be conducted for additional site under guidance of district authorities," it said.