OIL gears up for ‘huge challenge’ of placing blowout preventer as gas continues to flow in Assam mishap site

The Oil India Limited (OIL) is gearing up for the “huge challenge” of placing a Blow Out Preventer (BOP) on a gas well head in eastern Assam, from where natural gas is flowing uncontrollably for the past 11 days.

A team of experts from Singapore reached Guwahati on Sunday and were on their way to the mishap site at Baghjan in Tinsukia district to help local engineers plug the gas well, which blew out on May 27.

“With very limited space and non-availability of open space above the well head, placement of Blow Out Preventer (BOP) is a huge challenge as it entails huge risk. It is planned to place the BOP on the wellhead through a hydraulically driven mechanical transporter.