Lok Sabha Question No. 1212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Fire at OIL Oilfield
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary, Abdul Khaleque, Sunil Kumar Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1212 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## Fire at OIL oilfield

1212. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

पैोलयम व ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  was  any  violation  of  norms  while  drilling  close  to  forest  areas considering an occurrence at Oil India Limited's (OIL) oilfield in Baghjan, Assam, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of estimated loss of oil/gas in terms of volume and value;

- (c)  the  data  of  the  accidents/mishap  incidents  at  oil  and  gas  fields  during  the  last three years as of today;
- (d) whether any assessment was carried out to assess the damage to natural flora and fauna due to  accidental leakages  and  other  such  accidents,  if  so,  the  details thereof for the last three years and the current year;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  review  the  rules  and  regulation  set  for safety and security of people employed in oil-gas fields; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has  accepted  the  recommendations  of  the  Standing Committee's  report  on  'Safety,  Security  and  Environmental  Aspects  in  Petroleum Sector' to minimize such hazards and form a Unified Safety Board, if so, the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी ( ी धम धान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) Oil India Limited's (OIL) oilfields in Baghjan, Assam are located at non-forest land and there were no violations.

(b) One  of  the  wells  of  Oil  India  Ltd,  Baghjan-5,  in  which  blowout  occured,  was producing about 80,000 million standard cubic meters (MMSCMD) gas before it was put under workover. The blowout at well resulted in closure of a number of producing oil  & gas wells, in and around Baghjan due to protest staged by local people. The closures of producing wells has resulted in an estimated revenue loss of about Rs. 148  Cr  to  the  company  during  the  period  from  27.05.2020  to  08.09.2020.The revenue loss due to gas burning uncontrollably into the atmosphere from the blowout well  could  not  be  ascertained  as  no  measurement  was  possible  due  to  fire  and extreme heat.

(c) Number of the accidents/mishap incidents at oil and gas fields during the last three years reported to Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), are given below:

| Sector                     |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |
|----------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Oil Fields/Wells/Platforms |        30 |        25 |        21 |

(d) M/s The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) has been engaged for Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) monitoring and Bio-remediation, North East Institute of Science and Technology  (NEIST)  for  Seismological  Study  and  IIT,  Guwahati for  heat  impact through  Thermal  Imaging.  OIL  has  also  engaged  M/s  ERM  India  Pvt.  Limited,  to carry  out  detailed  Environment  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  study  to  assess  the damage to the  neighbouring  Environment  including  flora  &  fauna  and  suggest  for suitable mitigation measures.

(e) Ministry  of  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  regularly  monitors  and  reviews  various safety  measures in  the  oil  and  gas  sector  and  directs  the  companies  from  time  to time  to  take  suitable  measures  to  ensure  safety.  .Oil  Industry  Safety  Directorate (OISD), a technical Directorate  of  Ministry  of  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  formulates safety  standards  for  Oil  &  Gas  Industry.  The  Directorate  carries  out  regular  safety audits.Safety and security of people employed in gas oil fields is of prime importance.   In  order  to  prevent  such  accidents  in  future,  and  ensure  safety  of employees, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are updated regularly.

(f) Government is sensitive towards safety, security and environmental aspects in petroleum sector and is taking necessary action in this regard from time to time.

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