The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has launched an all-out effort to subdue the Gandhar well where heavy leakage of gas, which started on Sunday, is continuing.
The crisis management team of ONGC has taken charge at the site. Ankleshwar project manager K B Vohra and his team of experts, western regions executive director N Lal, and regional heads of drilling, exploration, production and security departments have also rushed to the site.
The corporation has also sought the opinion of experts of the US firm Wild Well Control Inc.
According to an official press release, efforts made by the authorities to subdue the well by bulldozing through the tubing as well as inner annulus proved futile as it was observed that water brine solution pumped in was being thrown out. A coil tubing unit from Ankleshwar was mobilised to control the well. A small diameter tubing was lowered to assist in pumping water to deeper levels inside the well. The well still could not be brought under control because of high pressure of gas flow.
To augment the rate of water being pumped into the well and to sustain regular water supply, a three km pipeline was immediately laid up to the site. Another water pipeline has been converted thereby providing three sources for water pumping at the well site, the release said.
This augmented the capacity of water being pumped in to six barrels per minute. Heavier brine also has been pumped into the well to subdue the pressure. Pumping in of HEC solution is also being attempted to reduce the flow of gas.
According to ONGC, the well is expected to be under control within the next few days.
