ONGC to quot;killquot; raging wells

ONGC executive director V K Sharma said a shallow seismic8217; survey, called sparker survey8217;, in and around the area of fire has been ordered at a cost of US one million to help locate the hot spot due to charging of sub-sea layers8217; and also identify the location of relief8217; well.

The rig Sagar Ratna was jacked down and towed about one km away from the platform on March 20 and would be brought to the shore for repair of any damage to electrical equipment and installation of fire pumps and cranes. It would bere-deployed later for control operations at the fire site, about 140 km west of Mumbai and 35 kms away from Bombay High oil and gas fields.

Uncontrolled leakage of gas from the casing of well D caught fire on March 12 and ONGC8217;s multi-purpose support vehicles MSVs were spraying water to prevent the fire from spreading. The cost of gas fire control operations since March 12 including expenses on MSVs, helicopters and experts8217; fees, amounted to Rs 12.55 crore.