SOCAR gradually dismantles equipment from accident well

This week State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has increased number of vessels to extinguish fire on the exploration well No 90 on the Bulla Deniz field up to 11. The vessels are owned by SOCAR’s Security Department and Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations.

According to SOCAR, three tanks with the solution 50 cub.m. each were lowered from the platform using Shirvan crane vessel. Six fire boats have created the water curtain at the mouth of the well to create conditions for work for the crane vessel Shirvan.

The fire was localized and directed vertically using the military vessel of the Azerbaijani frontier vessels.

Yesterday SOCAR dismantled and transported onshore about 20% of drilling equipment located on the well No 90. “The works to prevent the accident carried out by the specialists of SOCAR and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are carried out in accordance with the schedule,” reads the statement.

The first gas flow occurred on the well No 90 on August 17, 2013 at 9.30 p.m. “This was not a strong pressure, though the meters have already showed that there is a serious problem on the well,” said a source from SOCAR. He added that the second flowing occurred two hours later, it was stronger and damaged part of the equipment. “The ignition occurred on the well at about 2.0 a.m., when grains of sand came out of the well under high pressure. Their friction with metal caused sparkles and then fire,” said SOCAR’s employee. He added that all oilmen were evacuated from the platform before the first fire.—0-