Night curfew for 4 workover rigs in Assam

With one kidnapped worker still missing, ONGC's Nazira-based Assam asset is keeping four workover rigs shut at night until it makes security arrangements to prevent a repeat.

The search continues for ONGC employee Ritul Saikia, abducted by insurgent group ULFA-I on April 21, along with two others since rescued. On May 3, ONGC director (onshore) Anurag Sharma held an online review meeting with asset manager Om Veer Singh to discuss security.

Director technical and field services Om Prakash Singh visited Nazira immediately after the abduction last month at the ROM-100-III site. "As of May 4, the night operations of four workover rigs remain suspended," we hear.

Among these rigs are IR-500-VIII, IR-500-X, and IR-500-XI, under guard by Assam police battalions and the Assam home guard. ONGC's Assam asset has 17 workover rigs operating, of which four rigs are affected.

"On April 22 and April 23, ONGC shut down almost a dozen rigs because of security concerns," says a source. "However, this has not affected production or surface installations, and drilling rigs are operational."

ONGC plans to tighten security at workover rigs with at least a dozen new bunkhouses or crew quarters, portable security gates and fencing, portable watchtowers, portable kitchens, and toilets.