Assam: More than 150 days after Baghjan blowout, snubbing unit from Canada reaches site

Tinsukia: The snubbing unit from Calgary, Canada which has been brought for the Baghjan fire has reached the well site on Wednesday evening. A blowout occurred on May 27 last after the well suddenly became active while Oil India Limited (OIL) was carrying out workover operations in the gas-producing well Baghjan-5 under Baghjan Oilfield in Assam. The well caught fire on June 9.

With all equipments and accessories related to Snubbing Operation in place at the blowout site, arrangement for placing the snubbing unit is currently under progress. The snubbing unit is expected to commence the well-killing operation within the next few days. All the previous operations to kill the well have been met with failure.

According to a press release issued by Oil India Limited, while the final assessment report of the impacted families which has been carried out by the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia and directive of NGT, are yet to be received.

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OIL informed that it has till date released an amount of Rs 36.90 crores as compensation to the impacted people.

Additionally, at least 561 families received Rs 2.5 lakh each for damage to their houses or standing crops and horticulture. OIL has also agreed to disburse an amount of Rs 50,000 to 1,289 families every month till the well is brought under control.

Furthermore, the press release pointed out that a total of 46,786 Metric Tonnes of Crude Oil and 124.15 Million Metric St. Cubic Meter of Natural Gas were lost to date due to protests and blockades in and around Baghjan area since the blowout.

The snubbing unit from Canada took off in a heavy-duty An24 for Baghjan fire. According to reports, the fire was expected to be snubbed by the first week of November.

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