Incident Overview

An uncontrolled gas release occurred from the KSG#76 well on the Kharsang oilfield in Arunachal Pradesh, India, following a blowout on 30 October during servicing operations. The well had been leaking for three weeks before the situation was brought under control.

Response and Capping Operation

Oil India Limited (OIL), supported by international specialist Cudd Well Contract and the field operator GeoEnpro Petroleum (GEPL), initiated a crisis management response on 1 November. The operation involved safely removing the damaged blowout preventer (BOP) from the wellhead. Following its removal, a pre-positioned capping stack was installed. This critical step securely redirected the gas flow to the top of the stack, ensuring full containment and control. The BOP was successfully closed on 22 November, effectively stopping the gas discharge.

Factors for Success

The successful capping of the well was attributed to careful planning, technical expertise, and strong collaboration between global specialists and local teams.

Field Background and Operations

The Kharsang oilfield is located in the Assam-Arakan basin, approximately 50 kilometres east of the Digboi refinery. Discovered 50 years ago by OIL, it was brought into commercial operation in 1983. The field is currently operated by a consortium led by GEPL under a production sharing contract. It currently produces oil from shallow reservoirs, and the partners have ongoing plans to develop deeper zones and enhance output through the drilling of new wells.