30-Apr-2022: OIL signs MoU for Carbon sequestration and restoration of degraded forest land in Digboi

Oil India Limited signed an MoU with Digboi Forest Division, Assam Forest Department on 29th April 2022 for a project on Carbon Sequestration and Restoration of Degraded Forest Land in Upper Dihing Reserved Forest (west block) under Digboi Forest Division. The initiative has been undertaken under OIL’s CSR project Vasundhara.

The MoU was signed by Shri Pallab Barman, CGM-FHQ Affairs from OIL and Shri T C Ranjthram, DFO from Digboi Forest Division in the presence of Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Addl Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, Shri Prasanta Borkakoty, Resident Chief Executive, OIL and other officials from OIL and Govt of Assam. Under the project, reforestation and afforestation in 100 hectare of degraded forest area is planned to be undertaken through plantation of 2,50,000  saplings by March 2025. Apart from plantation, establishment of a Bambusetum and other activities to reduce dependency on the forest by providing alternate livelihood opportunities is also planned to be undertaken.

8-Apr-2022: OIL signs incubation agreement with Hydrogen Fuel related Start-up for promoting Hydrogen mobility solutions in Northeast

Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an Incubation Agreement with the Start-up Ohm Clean Tech Private Limited on yesterday for Design, Integration and Development of 9-M Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered e-Bus, and a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) solution. The Start-up will be mentored and nurtured under the prestigious IIT-Guwahati.

Shri Sushil Ch. Mishra, CMD, Oil India Ltd. briefed that OIL is committed to the development of innovative & path breaking technologies in the field of clean energy. OIL has already initiated a pilot project for hydrogen generation and blending. It is now sponsoring this start-up venture in the complementary fields of hydrogen storage, transportation and mobility solutions. He expressed the hope that this would help in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of GoI and open the doors for a hydrogen economy in the Northeast.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Harish Madhav, Director Finance, Oil India Ltd. informed that OIL sponsors eligible Start-ups under its scheme “SNEH” (Start-up Nurturing, Enabling & Handholding). OIL is presently incubating six Start-ups from all over the country working on various hi-tech fields like robotics, instrumentation, biotech and fuel delivery solutions. He envisioned that with the successful completion of these two new collaborations in the hydrogen energy domain, OIL in synergy with the start-up, shall be successful in running a Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered e-Bus in northeast India within a short time.

Bhavna S. Mayur, Director Ohm Cleantech said that Ohm was excited to be part of ushering Green Energy to the Northeast and this was a unique opportunity to bring important hydrogen linked technologies like LOHC and Hydrogen bus to the market. With the faith that OIL has put on us, we will do our best to bring Atmanirbhar development to India.

10-Jun-2020: Statement about the Blowout in Gas Well of Oil India Limited at Baghjan, Tinsukia District, Assam

Oil India Ltd (OIL), a PSU, reported that while carrying out workover operations in the Gas Producing Well Baghjan-5 under Baghjan Oilfield in Tinsukia district of Assam, the well suddenly became active on 27 May, 2020and a blowout occurred. It led to uncontrolled flow of Gas from the well. OIL India sought support from ONGC, which immediately deployed their Crisis Management Team (CMT). OIL also mobilized a Singapore based firm M/s Alert Disaster Control.

The well was planned to be capped by following the advice of experts and taking all safety precautions. While the clearing operations were going on at the well site, the well caught fire on 9 June 2020 around noon time, spreading the fire in an area of about 200 meters around the well site. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained till now.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Chief Minister of Assam reviewed the situation yesterday with the Oil India, ONGC, international experts and MoP&NG officials through video conferencing. Assam Chief Minister emphasized the need to allay the apprehensions of the people to loss of life and property. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan assured the Chief Minister that there will be full cooperation from MoPNG and OIL. The affected families will be given relief and compensation, as may be finalized with State Government.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Pradhan again held a review meeting through Video Conferencing today with the crisis management team located at site, officials of OIL India Ltd and Ministry officials. It has been reported that except at the well plinth area, the fire around the site has mostly extinguished.  However, the burning of gas at the well mouth will continue till the well is capped.

The fire in around 200 meters periphery has completely burnt about 15 houses, while another 10-15 houses have been partially affected. It is also reported that two firemen of Oil India Ltd have died. Preliminary information indicates that three firemen, two from OIL India, and one from ONGC jumped in a water pool nearby. While ONGC fireman got injured, two OIL India firemen could not save themselves. Their bodies have been retrieved.

The debris of burnt rig, fire engines and other material around the well site will be removed before any operation can be started to cap the well. Arrangements of continuous water supply will have to be made before activities are undertaken at the site which is likely to take 5-6 days to make these arrangements, and all the operations will take about 4 weeks to complete.

Around one thousand six hundred families had already been evacuated from the nearby affected areas and are camped in relief camps set up at nearby safe areas. OIL has decided to provide an amount of Rs. 30,000/- (Rupees Thirty Thousand) to each of the affected families as an immediate relief.

The well is located in the vicinity of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel, a wetland. OIL has engaged an accredited agency to carry out environment impact in and around Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel.