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Fire at Bobi well:

OGDC clarification

ISLAMABAD: The professionals are confident that the fire at Bobi well will be controlled within the time frame, said OGDCL Spokesman here on Monday.

All resources available within the country have been organised and have started reaching the site, he said continuing, two specialised piece of equipments have been located in Dubai and Houston and will be airlifted.

The spokesman further said that after consultation with Alert Disaster Control, it was decided not to extinguish fire deliberately as the uncontrolled hydrocarbon, if left unburnt, will be more hazardous for the surroundings.

As soon as the capping of the well is completed, the fire will be extinguished, he said.

By evening of April 6, a team of senior officials headed by an Executive Director reached at site, assessed the situation and consulted the authorities that outside expert will be required.

Accordingly Alert Disaster Control one of the companies which controlled the well fire in Kuwait reached the site on April 7 and prepared a 15 days programme to control the well.

Presently, the fire is contained in a small area and condoned off by an earthen bund 200x200 meters, spokesman said.

Bobi well No.6, he explained, was on production and shut in caught fire in the early hours on April 6, due to leakage or tempering of control valve by some person.

The factual position will be established through an inquiry, he said adding, the OGDCL professionals as well as District Administration and other authorities reached the site, he added.

The District administration, police & army authority offered and extended all material and manpower assistance to OGDCL.

The Spokesman stated that there are no villages or population close to the well. There were only four huts about 500 to 800 meters away from the well, which were advised to move out as a precautionary measures.

No other evacuation was either ordered or undertaken, as it was not required. The reports regarding evacuation is totally unfounded and baseless, spokesman said.

The OGDCL management is grateful to District Administration of Khairpur, Sanghar, Police officials and army authority for the prompt response and assistance rendered to OGDC, he added.ÑAPP