Lok Sabha Question No. 1103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: BOP System in Energy Sector
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1103 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  July, 2021

## BOP System in Energy Sector

1103. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

पेोिलयम और ाकृितक गैस मंी

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

- (a) whether the Government has established laws, rules and procedure for Blowout Prevention (BOP) system in energy sector in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of implementation and compliance, penalties and punishments related to BOP system;
- (c) the details of number and frequency of security checks for prevention of blowout incidents and steps taken by the Government to ensure enforceability;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan and taken actions to prevent and control damage to environment and surrounding locations due to such blowout incidents and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of blowout incidents in the last three years, State-wise; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to control the said incidents?

## ANSWER

पेोिलयम और ाकृितक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेर तेली )

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

- (a) Blow  out  Prevention  (BOP) system is covered under rule 146 and 158 of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules 2008  under the  Oilfields  (Regulation  and  Development)  Act  1948.  For  onshore  operations, BOP  system  is  covered  under  regulations  52  to  58  of  Oil  Mines  Regulations (OMR)  2017  developed  under  Mines  Act  1952.  The  safe  operations  of  BOP system  shall  be  in  accordance  to  Oil  Industry  Safety  Directorate  (OISD) Recommended Practices 174 (OISD-RP-174).

(b) Oil Industry Safety Directorate is competent authority for implementation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules 2008 for offshore locations. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) is a regulator for onshore operations and it carries out inspection for implementation of Oil Mines Regulations  (OMR)  2017.  Implementation  and  compliance  to  the  rules  are monitored  through  internal  audits  by  concerned  organization,  External  Safety Audit by OISD and inspection by DGMS. Rule 173 of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules 2008 provides for punishment in accordance  with  the  relevant  provision  of  the  Act  in  case  of  contravention  of Rules.

(c) Regulation  #  56  of  Oil  Mines  Regulations  (OMR)  2017  and  Rule  158  of P&NG Rules 2008 provides for the function and pressure testing of BOP. As per OISD-RP-174, major inspection of BOP including control system is carried out after  every  5  years.  For  emergency  preparedness,  weekly  mock  BOP  drill  is carried out.  During the audits OISD verifies the various requirements related to BOP and its control system.

(d) The owner, agent and manager of every oil mine have to comply with the standards  and  guidelines  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Rules,  1986  for discharging  liquid  effluent  and  gaseous  emission  and  disposal  of  solid  waste, drill cutting and drilling fluid applicable for oil drilling and gas extraction industry for protection against environmental pollution.

Procedures to prevent/contain such accidents are included in Blowout Contingency Plan, Disaster Management Plans (DMPs) and Standard Operating Procedures for Drilling and Work-over operations. In addition, there is Oil Spill Management Plan to contain the oil spillage due to such or any other accident in offshore.  In  case  of  blowout,  Exploration  &  Production  major  company  like ONGC has fully equipped Crisis Management Team (CMT) which is well trained to handle such situation. Organizations which do not have their own CMT are to enter  into  mutual  aid  agreement  with  other  E&P  company  having  CMT. Environment monitoring  is  carried  out  by  industry  to  observe  adverse  impacts due to blowout, if it occurs. Remedial measures are taken accordingly.

(e) & (f) :   Two blow out incidents occurred in last three years, which are given below:-

(i)    Blowout incident occurred on 02.02.2020 during well activation by PFH Oil and  Gas  Private  Ltd,  the  contractor  who  has  been  awarded  contract  under Discovered  Small  Field  Policy,  in  Andhra  Pradesh.  Massive  gas  leakage  with condensate  from  annulus  line  was  observed  due  to  rupture  in  3'  flow  line. Blowout was controlled with the help of Crisis Management Team of ONGC by closing flow line valve under water umbrella on 04.02.2020.

(ii)      During  workover  operation  on  27.05.2020  in  Baghjan#5  well,  of  Oil  India Limited  blow  out  occurred.  While  preparations  were  going  on  for  capping  the well,  it  caught fire on 09.06.2020. Finally well was capped on 15.11.2020 by a team of international experts from M/s Alert Disaster Control Singapore, ONGC CMT and other expert agencies.

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