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Day six: gas burns, ONGC tries to fix

For the sixth consecutive day, gas flowing from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's well in the Bombay High region off Bombay shore continued to burn even as systems of Sagar Ratna rig were being checked to move it to another location.

ONGC officials said that efforts are continuing to control the fire.

As the Coast Guard vessels sprayed water, choppers surveyed the entire region.

Two experts from Houston-based Cudd Pressure Control Inc -- Mark Mazell and his deputy Steven Burrow -- held a series of meetings with top ONGC officials to salvage the situation. They decided to move the rig to a further location and the process is on.

Well control equipment from various project sites of ONGC is being brought to Bombay in order to control fire.

Equipment at the site is being checked and after relocation of the rig, the ONGC team will have a closer look at the site and work out control operations.

The fire started at 1230 hours on Friday at the B-121 Platform, forcing ONGC to shut down other wells. This has affected the production of the premier oil company. The Coast Guard vessels are continuously spraying water to control the fire.

ONGC started insuring facilities since 1976 after commissioning production facilities in Bombay offshore. Currently assets worth $ 12 million are insured.

The insured assets comprise 13 production facilities, 116 well head platforms, 11 offshore drilling rigs, six specialised vessels, 3,500 kms of pipelines of different sizes and onshore facilities spread across the country.

UNI

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