Mumbai oil spill: Barge led to pipe burst

Preliminary internal investigations by the Oil & Natural gas Corporation (ONGC) experts revealed that one of the construction barges operating in the vicinity of the leaked pipe caused the burst.

“The most probable reason of leakage is an anchor wire rope of a construction barge working in the vicinity with the sub-sea valve assembly of Mumbai High Trunk (MHT) line,” said a company official.

The official further said that there were no signs of oil slick on the sea surface near the pipeline leakage. “However, two sophisticated Coast Guard vessels are monitoring the situation,” he added.

Meanwhile, ONGC multi-support vessel “Samudra Prabha”, equipped with repair assessment facilities and divers has located the leakage point at a Nautical Mile from the BF platform.”Cleaning of the area with high pressure jets is underway to ascertain the extent of damage. Normal flow will be restored in four to five days,” the official stated.

Production from Western Offshore is presently at a level of 3,00,000 barrels per day (as against normal level of 3,20,000). An oil tanker MS Swarna Brahmaputra, has also reached Mumbai High and will be deployed for additional support. This will facilitate opening of wells closed due to operational constraints of handling crude on the ICP-Heera line. “Efforts are on for restoring production from Vasai (East) field by diverting oil through the old line by Saturday evening”, the official said.