ONGC has hired US-based oil and gas blow out control experts Boots & Coots to contain the crisis at its Olpad-31 well, about 80 km from its Ankleeshwar Asset in Gujarat, which caught fire during a repair maintenance job on Saturday.

The company’s crisis management team has also stepped up efforts to drill a relief well at a nearby location for which the foundation work has started. “This well will be directionally drilled to reach Olpad-31 well surface. This will allow the crisis management team to plug the affected well at the bottom and stop further gas flow,” the company said in a statement.

Meanwhile, water is being sprayed to keep the wellhead area cool and not allow the fire to spread. Seven fire tenders have been deployed at the area.

ONGC mobilized its Crisis Management Team (CMT) and all resources at its command to control the Fire, which broke out on Saturday around 12.30 pm in an onshore well in Olpad area 80 km away from Ankleshwar, during repair and maintenance job.

A total of 12 persons sustained burn injuries and seven of them from the crisis management team. All the injured were shifted to a Hospital in Surat. While three of them have already been discharged after first aid, all necessary medical treatment is being given to others.

“All non-essential persons have been evacuated from the accident area. Since there is no habitation within two km radius of the Well, there is no danger to the life and property in the surrounding areas,” ONGC had said on Saturday.

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