A team of ONGC engineers with support from Indian Navy has successfully plugged a gas leakage on an unmanned offshore platform in Mumbai High South around 180 KM from the sea shore in the Arabian Sea.
A gas leakage was observed in one of the unmanned wellhead platforms S1-6, in the south field of Mumbai High. As a safety measure, the platform team immediately initiated all remote actions to shut down the well platform and to bleed off the pressure in the pipe lines. Fire-fighting vessels were instantly deployed near the platform to provide water blanketing by continuously spraying water.
Due to extremely bad weather conditions with high wind speeds of up to 35 knots, swell of 3.5 meters and strong surface currents in sea, it was not safe for ONGC team to land at unmanned platform by helicopter or transfer them by Multi Support Vessel. Attempts were however being made to transfer ONGC team to the unmanned platform taking all safety precautions. Having exhausted all available options to transfer ONGC team to S1-6 Platform, ONGC approached Indian Navy for help. After detailed discussions between ONGC and Indian Navy, it was decided to winch down ONGC team with the help of Indian Navy commandos.
‘Seaking’ helicopter N555 of Indian Navy reached ONGC process platform and took ONGC technical team to S1-6. ONGC team consisting of Mr. BKB Patel, Mr. Sanjib Kumar, Mr. Ravindra Kumar and Mr. S K Khakhalary, well trained in all safety aspects in high seas however, had no previous training or experience of winching down from helicopter. The team displayed extreme courage in adverse conditions, quickly learnt the technique and in synergy with Navy commandos landed on the unmanned well head platform S1-6.
Braving rough weather, the team identified the leakage source successfully and safely plugged it within one hour making the well ready to flow. The entire operation was planned and executed with utmost precision. ONGC Team displayed extreme courage, presence of mind and technical acumen in controlling the situation in the least possible time. ONGC acknowledges with very high appreciation the support rendered by Indian Navy.
