Guwahati, June 21: ONGC is moving ahead with its next phase of well-control operations at well RDS‑147A in Assam, reinforcing its commitment to managing gas discharge safely.
“A team of specialists from the International Well Control Agency has arrived onsite today and is conducting an initial assessment. High-pressure water is being pumped continuously—between 3,000 and 3,500 psi—at a robust rate of approximately 19–20 barrels per minute. So far today, around 2,200 barrels have been injected, including one planned “junk shot,” as a core part of the ongoing control strategy. Ground leveling is also underway to prepare the site for upcoming stages” ONGC said in a statement.
A state-of-the-art frac spread is currently deployed by ONGC, and an alternate road ramp has been constructed to ensure secure and uninterrupted access for equipment and personnel. Frac spread is a specialized hydraulic fracturing equipment used for pressure-pumping techniques to address gas leaks
Additionally, neighboring wells in the cluster have been shielded as a precaution.
Gas analysis indicates composition within safe parameters, providing further confidence in the controlled nature of the discharge. Meanwhile, water levels in the nearby Dikhow River are under constant surveillance, with pumps stationed at the riverbank to support the ongoing water operations.
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said ONGC had already attempted two emergency containment methods, dubbed Plan A and Plan B, without success. “ONGC and Oil India Limited (OIL) have four standard emergency responses for such incidents. So far, two plans have failed. The company is now moving ahead with Plan C, which involves a permanent capping of the well,” the Chief Minister said.
To oversee the high-risk operation, a team of US-based well control experts is expected to arrive in Sivasagar by Friday evening. The capping operation is slated to begin on Saturday and is expected to be completed within four to five days, Sarma added.
“About 50 per cent of the groundwork, including site preparation and equipment mobilisation, is already complete,” he said, underlining that ONGC is now adopting a more practical and safer strategy after exhaustive efforts to contain the leak.
The leak was reported on June 12 at Well No. RDS 147A of Rig No. SKP 135 at Barichuk in Bhatiapar under ONGC’s Rudrasagar oil field. The well was being operated by SK Petro Services, a private contractor, on behalf of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
The Chief Minister highlighted the grave risk posed by the location, noting that the well sits near a river embankment. “Had there been heavy rains or flooding, the situation could have escalated into a disaster,” he said.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter safety oversight in oilfield operations across Assam’s energy-rich Upper Assam region.
ONGC says it remains unwavering in its commitment to public safety, environmental stewardship, and operational integrity, bolstered by strong safety measures and expert collaboration.
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