Damage limited after oil pipeline bursts off Indian coast

Jordan News.Net
Friday 21st January, 2011

A major oil spill has occurred 80 kilometres off the coast of India's largest city, Mumbai.

The Oil and Natural Gas Commission's (ONGC) Mumbai-Uran Trunk Oil pipeline burst on Friday morning and was not contained until around 12pm, by which time the spill covered four square kilometres.

India's Coast Guard and Navy were put on full alert while four ships, Dornier planes and Chetak Helicopters headed for the area.

The spill was discovered shortly before 9:00am Friday, two kilometres from BPB platform (Bassein oil and gas field) in the western offshore field.

The Regional Contingency Plan (the existing emergency response measure) was activated immediately on detection of the leak, the Times of India reported.

ONGC is assessing the impact of the containment, the extent of damage and means of repair.

Connected oil and gas wells are being closed for safety reasons, the Times of India said. ONGC officials said the production loss would likely be limited to 3 hours.

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