(ET)
Day after a massive fire was reported at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plant in Hazira, the oil and gas major resumed operations on Friday. ONGC has charged the 42-inch pipeline and started gas supply from Bombay High. Gas supply from Hazira resumed through a 2,700-km heart line which provides natural gas to Hajira-based companies along with states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The Hazira plant is India’s largest gas-processing facility and a critical supplier of the fuel to domestic industries that receive gas from the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) trunkline. The fire snapped fuel supplies to power and fertilizer companies but the company diverted gas from other fields to make up for the shortfall. ONGC changed the 42-inch pipeline and started gas supply from Bombay High.
The 32-inch gas pipeline which connects Bombay High to ONGC Hajira plant via Abhva-Ubharat had caught fire due to the gas leakage, creating a huge carbon cloud. The fire created havoc among employees working in the terminal and control room. Initially company officers, employees and CRPS personnel tried to control the fire. The gas pipeline was de-pressurized from Bombay High and Abhva-Ubhrat valve was locked. At the same time, excess gas was diverted to the chimney pipeline to control the fire. The personnel at the site acted with presence of mind which ensured that there was no loss of life.
