GUWAHATI: Two experts of the Houston-based Boots and Coots Well International Incorporates — a global emergency response company — arrived on Friday at Dikom oil field disaster site in upper Assam's Dibrugarh district to control the massive fire that broke out in the oil producing well No 15.

Oil India Limited had sent an SOS to the American company on Thursday after the fire went out of control of technical expertise of the crisis management team comprising experts of OIL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The two experts assessed the situation. An artificial pond was dug and it would be filled with water that would be sprayed on the fire so that the experts could go near to the wellhead to control the fire.

Group General Manager of the OIL, J.K. Talukdar, said in a statement that the situation would soon be brought under control and operations in the oil field would resume soon.

Rising up to 40 feet, thick black smoke and large patches of oil spilt over the area dotted with rice fields. The heat generated from the fire was being felt at least two to three kilometres from the well.

More that 50 fire tenders from OIL, ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Assam Gas Company, State fire service, NEEPCO, the Indian Air Force and the Army have been pressed into service to create a water blanket in the area so that fire does not spread.

Oil supply unaffected

He also said that the blowout has not affected supply to the oil refineries and gas supply to the oil customers. However, there has been no loss of lives and property in the fire, he added. In Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that 2,500 families living nearby have been temporarily evacuated and sheltered in the relief camps.

A special device had to be designed by the OIL and ONGC crisis management team with the help of which the valve of the well was closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. This helped to stop the oil flow from tubing but flow from annulus continued. Arrangement for killing the well was made and after the well killing operations started at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The wellhead pressure was brought down from 3000 pressure per inch (psi) to the level of 800 psi and well was almost brought under control.

"Unfortunately at around 11.45 a.m. the well suddenly caught fire. In the process oil spillage within well plinth area was burnt. In the meanwhile, renowned international fighters from Boots and Coots reached the site and are working with experts of OIL and ONGC. It is expected that the situation would soon be brought under control," Mr. Talukdar added.

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