Lok Sabha Question No. 1051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Safety Incidents in ONGC Fields in Assam
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Kali Charan Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1051

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## SAFETY INCIDENTS IN ONGC FIELDS IN ASSAM

† 1051. SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

- (a)  the  complete  details  of  the  number  of  gas  leakages,  uncontrolled  well  blow-outs  fires  and other industrial accidents that occurred during the last five years in the oil and gas fields operated by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) in the State of Assam;
- (b)  whether  mandatory  safety  audits  were  conducted  at  the  concerned  installations  prior  to these  incidents  and  if  so,  the  details  of  action  taken  against  the  officials  and  contractors  found responsible for the said incidents;
- (c)  the  details  of  compensation  likely  to  be  paid  to  the  affected  farmers,  workers  and  local residents, incident-wise and district-wise; and
- (d)  whether  any  concrete  action  plan  has  been  prepared  for  the  modernisation  of  ageing  and obsolete infrastructure of ONGC in Assam to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी (ŵी सुरे श गोपी)

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a): Six (06) major incidents of gas leakages, uncontrolled well blow-outs fires and other industrial accidents have occurred in oil and gas fields operated by  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  Limited  (ONGC)  in  the  State  of  Assam  during  the  last  five years. Details are given at Annexure I.
- (b): ONGC  follows  and  implements  the  latest  safety  protocols  and  procedures  in  all  its operational activities. Regular internal safety audits are conducted by ONGC personnel. Mandatory safety audits/inspections are also carried out by Statutory Authorities such as the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD). Details of the action taken against the officials and contractors found responsible in different incidents are given at Annexure II.

## (c): Details of compensation paid to the affected farmers, workers and local residents, incidentwise and district-wise are as under:

|   S. No. | Incident Date   | District        | Compensation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       01 | 12.06.2025      | Sivsagar, Assam | 1) An ex-gratia payment of Rs. 1,43,50,000 was made through the Sivasagar District Administration to the residents who were shifted to Relief Camps during the gas blowout Incident at well RDS-147A. 2) A payment of Rs. 1,13,84,583/- was made to the District Authorities to reimburse the expenses incurred and services utilized during the gas blowout incident at Well RDS-147A. |

- (d): ONGC prioritizes upgrading its infrastructure and replacing aging equipment, implementing advanced  technologies  for  improved  reliability  and  energy  efficiency,  and  adhering  to  updated guidelines and safety regulations.

*****

Annexure  I referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1051  for  answer  on 05.02.2026

|   S. No. | Incident Date   | Brief of incident                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       01 | 06.12.2021      | An accident occurred at drilling rig E-1400-XIII in the Assam Asset. One casualty of ONGC personnel was reported.                                                                             |
|       02 | 05.06.2022      | An accident occurred at drilling rig E-760-X in the Jorhat Asset. One casualty of ONGC personnel was reported.                                                                                |
|       03 | 14.11.2022      | An industrial accident was reported in the A&AA Basin, Jorhat. One ONGC employee was injured.                                                                                                 |
|       04 | 21.07.2023      | A fire incident occurred at rig SKP-150-II deployed at well NG#8 in the Assam Asset. No loss of life or injury was reported in the incident.                                                  |
|       05 | 07.01.2025      | A fire incident occurred at Borholla Gas Gathering Station (GGS), Jorhat Asset. One casualty was reported.                                                                                    |
|       06 | 12.06.2025      | A blowout incident occurred during service operations at well number RDS#147A in Sivasagar, Assam. The well was capped on 27.06.2025. No loss of life or injury was reported in the incident. |

Annexure  II referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1051  for  answer  on 05.02.2026

|   S. No. | Incident Date   | Action taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|----------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       01 | 07.01.2025      | Penal action taken against HSE Manager, Process-In charge, Installation Manager, Surface Area- Manager and Surface Manager, as per ONGC CDA Rules                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       02 | 05.06.2022      | Penal action taken against DIC, In-charge-Rig Building and Assistant- in-Charge Rig Building as per ONGC CDA Rules                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|       03 | 12.06.2025      |  Penal action taken against MDT heads, Installation Manager, Operation Manager, In-charge Logging as per ONGC CDA Rules and Contractor.  The Well Control Certification Agency through which the subject contractor obtained training for its field manpower, has been banned and investigation has been initiated.  Withheld contractual payment to contractor for the entire blow out period. |