The oil leakage in the Mumbai Uran Trunk (MUT) pipeline was detected at 8:45 am near the BPB platform (Bassein oil and gas field). “The initial assessment of the extent of oil spill is about one mile long,” the ONGC said in a press statement.
An ONGC spokesman, however, later confirmed that the oil spill was spread over 4 km.
Special vessels equipped to repair the pipeline rushed to the site to stop the leak. The Coast Guard, too, activated the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan to ensure minimum damage to the environment.
The Regional Contingency Plan (which is the existing emergency response measure) was activated immediately. Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group Rear Admiral L P B Babu and Coast Guard were asked for help.
All connected oil and gas wells were closed for safety reasons for more than three hours. The oil production resumed after a few hours and was diverted through another pipeline, the ICP-Heera Uran Trunk (HUT) pipeline, the ONGC said later in the day.
“It has been estimated that oil spill will be dispersed within 48 hours,” the ONGC said. Due to the closure of production, the ONGC estimated the interim loss of 25,000 barrels.
Earlier, soon after the detection of leakage, which was located at 2 km from the BPB platform, the ONGC mobilised the pipeline repair vessel, including three Multi Support Vessels, to the site to ascertain the extent of leakage for containment and repair.