Oil India Limited (OIL) achieved a major milestone on Saturday by successfully capping Oil Well KSG 76 at the Kharsang Oil Field in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, 23 days after a blowout caused uncontrolled gas release from the well.
The emergency situation began on October 30 when a blowout occurred during routine service operations at the well, operated by GeoEnpro Petroleum Limited (GEPL). OIL’s Crisis Management Team (CMT), supported by international experts from Cudd Well Control, USA, and the GEPL team, took charge of operations on November 1 and immediately mobilised to address the critical situation.
The operation’s primary challenge involved safely removing the damaged Blowout Preventer (BOP) from the wellhead—a high-risk task requiring exceptional precision and coordination. “This achievement reflects the resilience, dedication and teamwork of everyone involved,” an OIL spokesperson stated.
Following the successful removal of the damaged BOP, the pre-positioned capping stack was accurately installed onto the wellhead. This critical step redirected the escaping gas flow securely to the top of the stack, ensuring complete containment. “With the capping stack firmly in place and secured, the BOP was successfully closed, effectively stopping the gas discharge from Well KSG 76,” OIL officials confirmed.
An OIL representative highlighted the operation’s significance: “The completion of the capping operation stands as a testament to OIL’s engineering acumen, detailed planning, and the strong collaboration between global specialists and local teams.”
The company acknowledged multiple stakeholders for their contributions. “OIL acknowledges the exemplary contributions of its Crisis Management Team, experts from Cudd Well Control, USA, GeoEnpro Petroleum Limited team, and the committed field teams who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions,” officials stated.
Crucial support came from various authorities throughout the operation. “OIL expresses its sincere gratitude to the District and State Administration of Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), and the local community for their steadfast support, which played a pivotal role in the safe and timely execution of this operation,” the company said.
With the well successfully capped, OIL confirmed that subsequent phases of the well control roadmap will now proceed according to established operational protocols. “OIL remains steadfast in its pursuit of safe, sustainable and efficient operations in every sphere of its work,” the company reaffirmed, demonstrating its commitment to operational excellence and safety in the petroleum sector.
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