Flames at ONGC Mori-5 Well Blowout Not Yet Under Control
ONGC is coordinating with all stakeholders, including district and police administrations, local authorities and the media, to ensure transparency.
Kakinada: The situation at the blowout site of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Mori-5 well near Irusumanda village of Malkipuram mandal in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh has not been brought under total control till Tuesday night.
However, both the panic among people and flames have subsided to an extent.
ONGC and district officials are still uncertain how long the ordeal will continue. The corporation’s crisis management team is already in position and is waiting for the gas pressure to subside before attempting to cap the well.
Senior management of ONGC, including director (technology and field services) Vikram Saxena has arrived from New Delhi along with the crisis management team. They have assumed the operational control of Well Mori-5.
All evacuation works have been completed. A temporary canal from a nearby irrigation source has been readied for deployment of high-capacity firewater pumps, which are being put in place. Authorities have finalised a comprehensive blowout control plan and are waiting for the intensity of the leak to subside.
ONGC is coordinating with all stakeholders, including district and police administrations, local authorities and the media, to ensure transparency. The corporation said in a statement that all operations are being carried out ensuring the highest standards of safety and environmental care.
Konaseema district collector R. Mahesh Kumar, along with ONGC Rajamahendravaram Asset’s executive director and asset manager Santanu Das, ONGC director Vikram Saxena, joint collector T. Nishanthi and district superintendent of police Rahul Meena told media on Tuesday evening that residents of the surrounding villages need not worry, as the fire has been brought under control.
The gas leak has subsided by 90 per cent. The fire will be completely under control in the next four days. The well could then be capped in about a week.
Collector Mahesh Kumar said due to the blowout, paddy crops over three acres surrounding the well in Irusumanda village and 75 coconut trees have been damaged. Nearly 450 people have been rehabilitated. He said compensation will be provided after assessing the losses.
Authorities are planning a road over the paddy fields to carry the necessary equipment to cap the well.
