Gas leak sparks fire at ONGC oil well in Andhra Pradesh, no casualties reported

The incident occurred at the Mori-5 oil and gas well in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, an area within the Krishna-Godavari delta known for hydrocarbon production. According to officials, the fire broke out after a gas pipeline connected to the well developed a leak during operational activity.

An ONGC official said preliminary assessments indicated that the fire was caused by a pipeline leak at the Mori-5 well, which is operated by Deep Industries Limited as part of production enhancement work. “The fire occurred due to a gas pipeline leakage at the Mori-5 well,” the official said, adding that no deaths or injuries had been reported.

The well is located near Irusumanda village in the Razole area of Konaseema district. Local authorities said the incident took place while repair work was being carried out using a workover rig after the well had temporarily stopped production. During the operation, a sudden blowout released a large volume of gas mixed with crude oil, which rose forcefully into the air before igniting.

Officials described flames erupting at the site soon after the leak, creating panic among residents of nearby villages. Thick clouds of gas and smoke spread across Irusumanda and surrounding areas, reducing visibility and raising concerns about further ignition risks.

As a precaution, the district administration issued safety warnings through loudspeakers, advising residents in at least three nearby villages not to use electricity, switch on electrical appliances or light cooking stoves. Authorities said these steps were necessary to prevent sparks that could worsen the situation.

Local panchayat representatives and district officials urged residents to evacuate immediately. Many villagers left their homes and moved livestock to safer locations as emergency teams worked to secure the area. The administration also restricted access to the site, cordoning off roads leading to the well.

ONGC personnel and emergency responders were deployed to control the gas leak and contain the fire. Senior officials from ONGC’s Rajahmundry onshore asset rushed to the site to oversee containment operations and coordinate with local authorities.

District officials said the situation was being closely monitored and that additional safety measures had been put in place to protect nearby communities. Firefighting equipment and technical teams remained on standby as efforts continued to stabilise the well and prevent further leakage.

Deep Industries Limited, which operates the Mori-5 well under contract, is a production enhancement contractor for ONGC. The company was awarded a contract worth approximately 1,402 crore rupees in 2024 to boost production at ONGC’s Rajahmundry asset in Andhra Pradesh. Officials said the firm has been operating the Mori-5 well for about a year.

ONGC has not reported any disruption to its wider operations in the region but said safety reviews would be conducted once the immediate situation is fully under control. The company has a significant operational footprint in the Krishna-Godavari basin, producing natural gas and crude oil from both onshore fields and offshore rigs in the Bay of Bengal.

Hydrocarbons extracted from offshore platforms are transported through an extensive subsea and onshore pipeline network to processing facilities in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring regions. From there, processed gas is supplied to national transmission networks, while crude oil is sent for further handling and refining.

Context

The incident highlights the safety challenges associated with oil and gas operations in densely populated regions. While India relies heavily on domestic and offshore hydrocarbon production to meet energy demand, accidents such as gas leaks and blowouts underscore the importance of stringent safety protocols, rapid emergency response and effective coordination between energy companies and local administrations.