ONGC clears path to cap Assam gas well as leak subsides, residents begin to return home

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 22, 2025

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) announced on Sunday that it has successfully laid the groundwork to cap the damaged gas well at the Rudrasagar oil field in Assam’s Sivasagar district, where a gas blowout occurred on June 12.

The company reported a further drop in gas pressure, making the site safer for controlled capping operations. Continuous water blanketing is being maintained around the well to minimize risk, as confirmed in an official statement.

ONGC, in collaboration with global well control experts from Cudd Pressure Control, has reached a critical stage in its operation at Well RDS#147A. So far, ten trailer loads of rig materials have been cleared from the site by ONGC’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) and specialists, removing most of the obstructive equipment and allowing space for the capping machinery.

Preparations for the final operation are in full swing. A detailed inspection of the rig’s elevated mast section has been completed, and a specialised long-boom crane is being deployed to safely extract tubing stacked in the derrick.

Air quality checks are ongoing, with encouraging results. No hydrocarbon traces have been detected beyond 30 metres from the well. Based on these findings, residents living outside a 500-metre radius of the site have been cleared to return home and resume normal activities, including cooking and use of electricity.

ONGC also stated it continues to support relief camps managed by the district administration, providing round-the-clock medical care and other assistance to the affected families.

With capping operations nearing execution, ONGC emphasized its continued commitment to both environmental safety and community welfare.