Crude oil wasted during Mehsana rig mishap

MEHSANA - Crude oil worth millions was wasted after several pipes burst during repair work at a rig in Gujarat’s Mehsana District.

The mishap occurred at an unused well in the vicinity of the site where repair work was in progress on Wednesday. Technicians of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) were carrying out the repair work.

Several pipes suddenly burst after ONGC workers conducted a blast in the well as part of the restoration process.

Copious amounts of crude oil shot up 15-20 feet high in the air, spilling into the neighbouring fields.

“Almost seven pipes suddenly burst and fell on to the nearby fields. Almost immediately, a jet of oil and gas rushed up the well and both oil and gas were intermixed,” said Chatur Singh Yadav, an onlooker.

Besides flooding the nearby fields, the oil has entered parts of the residential areas of ONGC officials, which are situated in close proximity to the site.

The ONGC officials have asked the people not to venture near the areas submerged by the crude oil. No casualties have been reported yet.

The well had been unused since 1950.By Uday Adhvaryu (ANI)