Blowout at Sele Raya well contained: SKK Migas

Upstream authority SKK Migas said that a blowout incident at the West Belani-8 well in Merangin II Block, in North Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra Province, operated by PT Sele Raya has been contained.

SKK Migas Public Relations Head Handoyo Budi said in a statement Wednesday that the blow out incident occurred on Monday when drilling work at the well reached a depth of 2,160 feet, causing fire to the rig.

The entire crew and local residents within a radius of 300 meters were immediately evacuated, the statement said, adding that there were no casualties from the incident. ?From physical observation and gas detector, no gas leaks were found outside the area which has been sterilized,? Handoyo said.

Sele Raya was assisted by fire units from PT Pertamina EP Field Pendopo in fighting the fire, which lingered till Tuesday and reached as high as 30 meters, creating fears among local residents as the well is linked with pipe passing through the local village, press reports said.

The SKK Migas statement said that in a bid to completely deal with the blowout incident, Sele Raya was waiting for experts and equipment from the US and Singapore. Sele Raya has also asked for help from Pertamina to dispatch well control personnel to make evaluation and to put down the fire at the well.

Handoyo added to prevent the fire from spreading to other wells, Sele Raya has shut down three nearby wells, causing potential production loss of 300 barrels of oil per day.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak