Blast in oil field in Tinsukia. Image credit: Republic TV
A major blowout took place on May 27 at a gas producing well of OIL at Baghjan.

A huge explosion was reported at the Baghjan production well under Baghjan Oil field of Oil India Limited in Tinsukia on Wednesday morning at 10:30 am.

According to sources, the blast occurred due to some technical problems in the oil field as operational work was taking place in the day.

The nearby area is being evacuated apprehending fire in the gas in the atmosphere due gas being pumped in the air.

Because of the incessant rain, the chances of an immediate fire decreased.

The ongoing operations had to be immediately suspended and the well started releasing natural gas in an uncontrolled manner.

All efforts were been made to mobilize men and equipment at the site so that the well can be brought under control.

Further, the Crisis Management Team from ONGCL, Nazira has been mobilized to assist OIL’s efforts to control the well at the earliest.

The blast took place while workover operations were going on to produce gas from new sand (oil and gas-bearing reservoir) at a depth of 3729 metres.

Earlier the well was producing around 1lakh Standard Cubic Metre per day (SCMD) of gas from a depth of 3870 metres.

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]