The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Gas leak needs study: ONGC

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Thursday, May 24, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Gas leak needs study: ONGC

Special Correspondent

Experts moot a substitute well to the depth of the existing one as a precaution

HYDERABAD: Experts from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has said that the emission of gas from a borewell in Anantapur district requires further study before any conclusions were drawn.

It said that S. Venganapalli village falls within Kadapa basin which has been classified as category-IV, from oil exploration point of view, "meaning possible existence of hydrocarbons". ONGC experts had studied the phenomenon at the instance of Anantapur District Collector D. Kadmiel.

They observed that on the strength of "quick look" laboratory analyses--gas and water analysis and gas seepage from fractures around the borewell, it needed further detailed field studies with extensive gas and rock samplings from other wells for exacting the nature of gas and its potential, if any.

As a safety measure, they suggested drilling a "substitute well", to a depth of the existing one and laying a pipeline "away from the residential area". B. Ratnam, Superintending Geologist, and NSR Murthy, Chief Chemist, in their report said the gas may be flared.

They suggested installation of pressure gauges and recording of temperatures to `ascertain the behaviour of the well'.

Analysis

They said the gas analysis showed that the major component is methane (CH4), constituting 89.67 per cent. ONGC Rajahmundry asset PRO Preethesh Babu on Wednesday clarified that a detailed report was faxed to the Collector on May 21.

The report mentioned that although water analysis indicated that the water was potable, from health point of view it has advised necessary precautions.

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