NE BUSINESS BUREAU
KARAIKAL, OCT 13
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has said it was “going to carry out controlled reopening” of the relief well (Well PD 2) in Periyakudi at Kariyamangalam village in Tiruvarur district.
The operation is to be carried out using a drilling rig to protect the well and the local community. This is a safer option to abandoning the well, the ONGC said in a statement issued on Thursday.
- The operation is to be carried out using a drilling rig to protect the well and the local community
- ONGC’s operations strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and international safety standards
- Since the enactment of the “Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act 2020,” ONGC has not drilled any new wells, ensuring strict compliance with the Act
“With the support of the district administration and the State government, ONGC is hopeful of the necessary permissions for the intervention,” the release said and added that there was absolutely no reason for alarm, as the well was being continuously and diligently monitored. The statement comes in the wake of recent reports of “gas leakage” from the defunct oil well at the village with residents and farmers organisations raising safety concerns.
ONGC’s operations strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and international safety standards. Since the enactment of the “Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act 2020,” ONGC has not drilled any new wells, ensuring strict compliance with the Act.
In 2012, ONGC commenced the spudding of this Well PD#2 after securing all necessary statutory clearances from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). The well’s construction was completed in 2013, and during production testing, a high-pressure flow necessitated the well’s temporary closure.
“Despite earnest attempts in 2014 and 2016 to explore alternative zones within the well, technical challenges hindered progress. Recognizing the imperative of ensuring the well’s safety and the welfare of Kariyamangalam’s residents, ONGC approached the District Administration in 2022 to propose workover operations. A peace meeting convened at the RDO office in Mannargudi on 2 August 2022, unfortunately concluded without consensus due to local resistance stemming from misunderstandings and limited understanding of the operation’s principles,” the statement added.
As a responsible corporate citizen, Energy Maharatna ONGC remains dedicated to serving the people of Tamil Nadu and contributing significantly to the state and nation’s progress.
