Lok Sabha Question No. 3283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Incidents of Gas Leakage and Fire Break Out
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Vishnu Dayal Ram

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3283 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  AUGUST, 2021

## Incidents of Gas Leakage and Fire Break Out

## 3283. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

## पेोलयम व ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

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

- (a)  whether it is a fact that the number of incidents of gas leakage and fire break out in underground natural gas pipelines, refineries and oil fields/wells has gone up;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  along  with  number  of  such  incidents  and  the  loss  of  revenue reported as a result thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c)  whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  oil  companies/persons  and  other  agencies  have been found responsible/involved in such incidents and if so, the details thereof and the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government against them;
- (d)  whether it is true that failure to comply with standard operating procedures was the main reason for the accidents during the said period and if so, the details thereof along with the other reasons for such accidents; and
- (e)   whether the Government has conducted any enquiry in this regard and if so, the details and the outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

## MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI  RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): The major onsite incidents in the last three years reported to Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) are given below:

| Gas Leakage and Fire Incidents   | Gas Leakage and Fire Incidents   | Gas Leakage and Fire Incidents   | Gas Leakage and Fire Incidents   | Gas Leakage and Fire Incidents   |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Sector                           | 2018-19                          | 2019-20                          | 2020-21                          | 2021-22 (till July'21)           |
| Pipelines                        | Nil                              | Nil                              | 01                               | Nil                              |
| Refineries                       | 10                               | 07                               | 02                               | 01                               |
| Oil Fields/Wells                 | 06                               | 03                               | 02                               | 01                               |
| Total                            | 16                               | 10                               | 05                               | 02                               |

(c) ,(d) &(e) : The analysis of last three years data carried out by OISD  indicates that majority of the accidents that take place in the oil & gas industry are mainly due to disregard to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), equipment failure, poor maintenance & inspection and poor supervision. After Baghjan well fire incident, a Three-member    High  Level  Committee    headed  by  Shri    S.C.L  Das  ,  Director General, Directorate  General  of  Hydrocarbons,  and  comprising of Shri  B.C.Bora, former  Chairman    ONGC,  Shri    T.K.Sengupta,  former  Director    of    ONGC,  was constituted  by the Ministry of  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  vide it's Order dated 11June  2020  to inquire  into the incidence of fire at  Baghjan oilfield  of  Oil India Limited    (OIL)  in  Tinsukia,  Assam.  The  committee  has  submitted  its  report.  In addition,  a  committee  was  constituted  by  Oil  Industry  Safety  Directorate  (OISD), which  has  also  submitted  the  report.  The    three-member    High  Level  Committee constituted by  the Ministry of  Petroleum and  Natural Gas  has taken into account the recommendations  of OISD  committee  also. The major recommendations of the two Committees are as  under:

- i. Preparation  of  work over  plan by Multi-Disciplinary Team
- ii. Safety Audit of all rigs and installations on annual basis.
- iii. Safety training to officers of all level.
- iv. Development of strong Crisis Management Team.
- v. Well control training must for work over  rig key personnel.
- vi. Review, revise and establish additional Standard Operating Procedure in all cross-sections of work, based on statutory requirements.
- vii. Introduction of IT enabled system for Drilling, Workover and Production operations.
- viii. Invoking of provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and  Rules in case of blowout.
- ix. Competency mapping for all  key personnel.
- x. Preparation of detailed guidelines to  be followed after blowout.

The report of  the High Level  Committee  has  been accepted by the Government and Oil India  Ltd   has been  asked  to take   action   on  the    recommendations   of report and  also  against  the  officers  responsible  for lapses.