Oil India Limited (OIL) has suspended the ongoing operation at Baghjan 5 in Tinsukia district after heavy rainfalls for the last few days wrecked havoc in upper Assam.
Baghjan area has been severely hit by floods and the oil well blowout site has been completely inundated by flood waters.
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The water levels of the rivers are rising constantly.
Due to the incessant rains for the last few days, an RCC bridge on the Doomdooms-Baghjan road, around 10 km from the blowout well, collapsed.
“Dangori River is overflowing. All connecting roads to the site have been submerged by flood waters,” said Jayant Bormudoi, senior manager (Corporate Communication) of OIL.
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“The approach road to the debris area via Plastic Park Road has been closed by the district administration for all kinds of vehicular traffic from the bridge over Maguri Beel as the road from the bridge to the well site has been severely damaged by flood waters,” Bormudoi added.
The senior OIL official also said at many places.
“Water is flowing over the road. The road is now under knee to waist-deep waters,” Bormudoi further said, adding, “The stretches of water overflow are about 150 to 200 metres each.”
Flood water has entered the debris area and inundated the large area.
The Kill Pump area has been completely flooded and the OIL CMT Water Pump area has been submerged by flood waters.
“In such a situation, the working condition at the site was considered unsafe for the day and all operations at site have been called off for the day today. PWD and OIL engineers are jointly inspecting the roads,” the senior manage informed.
Considering the flood situation the exercises for the study all around the site will be kept on hold for 2-3 days till near normalcy returns. Recording of data at already installed meters will continue, the OIL official said.
TERI study on Bio-remediation of sludge: The bio-remediation job has been put on hold till the water level recedes in the earmarked sites.
However, fire service personnel are stationed at the strategic locations for handling any emergency situation. Operations at OIL workshops continue.
Mobilization of equipment from outside: Fabrication of one BOP Raiser for use by Alert team has been completed and is ready for shift to site once flood situation is normal, the OIL official informed.
Servicing and testing of 2 air compressors have been completed and those are ready for shifting to the site once the road condition improves.
Transfer of the pump set for the pump station has been kept on hold due to the prevailing road conditions, the official added.