Another well scare at Baghjan for Oil India
Four years after the Baghjan blowout, Oil India is looking hard at its safety measures after another leak scare at producing oil well Baghjan-24 in Assam.
On April 9 (2024), locals around the Dighaltarang tea estate within the now-diminished 64.5-sq km Baghjan PML (reduced from 75-sq km in 2023) woke up to a massive explosion "that shook the ground" at 11.30pm. Memories of the fatal BGN-5 blowout on May 27 (2020) still linger, and politicians continue to use the accident in their campaigning ahead of national elections scheduled to start on April 19 (2024).
In the latest spill, oil was seen gushing out from the producing well's broken X-Mas tree, evident in a video viewed by this report. An Oil India source confirms the spill affected at least 100-sq metres of land.
A Baghjan EPS installation manager and other workers travelled for one-and-a-half hours to reach the spot and plug the leak. "Fortunately, the main valve was unaffected," confirms a company source.
"Once that was turned off, the leak from a broken flange stopped." On April 10 (2024), the company was in full damage-control mode, trying to reassure panicking villagers.
"Oil India personnel rushed to the site and controlled the leak at around 2.20am," confirmed Oil India in a press release the next day (April 10, 2024). "The district administration was informed, and officials were present to assess and address the situation; the fire service was mobilised and is on standby."
Oil India added that officials are investigating a hole found on the flow path from the X-Mas tree and have set up an on-site assessment team. On April 13 (2024), Oil India arranged a compensation package for locals.
An insider says the next step is an inquiry to learn who is responsible. "Oil India can reassure that the well is completely controlled and in a closed condition," adds the release.
"There is no need to panic." More often than not, oil thieves are behind such accidents when they break the X-Mas tree to steal oil, we hear.