Date:19/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/19/stories/2005091904531300.htm

Other States - Assam

2 more U.S. experts arrive in Assam

Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI: : Two more experts of the Houston-based Boots and Coots arrived at Dikom in upper Assam Dibrugarh district on Sunday to join their two colleagues at the oil well disaster site. An Oil India Limited spokesman told The Hindu over phone that the U.S. experts had a plan of action ready, while work to set up temporary infrastructure to execute it was on.

An artificial pond with 90,000 cubic metre capacity was being dug with the logistic support of OIL and ONGC. A temporary pipeline was being laid from the nearby Sesa river from where water would be pumped. The river is about a km away from the pond.

The spokesman said work has been going on round-the-clock and thatthe actual fire fighting operation might not take much time. But, creating the temporary infrastructure for the operation was expected to take more time.

A massive fire broke out at well No. 15 of the high pressure Dikom oilfield last Thursday. As it could not be controlled, OIL sought the expertise of Boots and Coots. Two well-fire engineers landed in Dikom on Friday.