Malleswaram incident not a blowout, says ONGC ED

Malleswaram incident not a blowout, says ONGC ED
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Highlights

Executive Director and Asset Manager of ONGC, Rajahmundry Asset, Debashis Sanyal, has clarified that the gas leakage incident at MSDF well, being drilled by E1400-17 rig at Malleswaram village in Bantumilli mandal in Krishna district, on Sunday was not a blowout but a ‘gas kick control’.

Rajahmundry: Executive Director and Asset Manager of ONGC, Rajahmundry Asset, Debashis Sanyal, has clarified that the gas leakage incident at MSDF well, being drilled by E1400-17 rig at Malleswaram village in Bantumilli mandal in Krishna district, on Sunday was not a blowout but a ‘gas kick control’.

Addressing the media at Godavari Bhavan here on Monday, he said the incident took place when pressure was increased during the pulling out operation, which was carried out after completion of drilling. The total depth of the well was 3,900 metres. However, he said a probe was ordered into the incident to ascertain the reasons and avoid such incidents in future. Sanyal explained that blowouts occur when the Blowout Preventer (BOP) fails to prevent the gushing gas or oil from the well with abnormal pressure, but at Malleswaram, the BOP was holding the pressure.

He said the incident took place as the thread of one of the pressure gauges of the Choke manifold gave up. The master valve was immediately closed and the gushing out stopped, he said. He said the incident occurred at around 7 pm on Sunday and the gas kick was controlled within minutes. Engineers, along with fire units and pumping units, were rushed to the site from Rajahmundry.

In addition, 100 tonnes of baryte was brought from Narsapur in West Godavari district to pump it with mud through drillers. Though ONGC was ready to take up the operation by 3 am on Monday, he said the exercise was taken up after daybreak on Monday following a request by the villagers. He expressed hope that the well would be restored in a couple of days. He said two senior residential engineers would be posted.

While one engineer would look after drilling, the other would look into production and liaison with public and government officials. The two engineers would stay in Gudivada or at Machilipatnam, he said. Meanwhile, Krishna District Collector, who visited the site, said there was no need for the people to panic. He directed Gudivada RDO to assess the damage and submit a report. The ONGC said it was ready to pay compensation recommended by the district administration.

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