ONGC plugs Western Offshore pipeline leak

State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) today shut some wells at the Bassein oil and gas field, Western Offshore, after detecting leakage in the Mumbai Uran Trunk (MUT) oil pipeline. Fields in the Western Offshore are about 140 km from the west coast here and 40 km south of the Mumbai High fields. Bassein is the nation’s biggest oil field.

The leak will cause a loss of 25,000 barrels (a barrel is 157.5 litres), ONGC said in a press statement today. The MUT currently pumps 212,000 barrels of oil per day.

“The regional contingency plan (which is the existing emergency response measure) has been activated immediately on detection of the leak. The Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group and the Coast Guard have been informed. National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan is also being activated by the Coast Guard to ensure minimum damage to environment,” the company said.

The initial assessment of the extent of oil spill is about a mile long. “ONGC has mobilised the pipeline repair vessel, including three multi-support vessels, to the site to ascertain the extent of leakage for containment and repair,” the statement added.

The oil and gas production from Mumbai High is being diverted to the ICP-Heera Uran Trunk pipeline.