Well ١٤٧ in the Rag Sefid oil field experienced a blowout on October ٢٩, ٢٠١٧, with flames reaching a height of ٧٠ meters and temperatures near the well reaching ٧٠٠ degrees Celsius. Additionally, noise pollution increased to ١٨٠ decibels, negatively affecting the health of the workers.
Details of the Incident and Field Location
The Rag Sefid oil field is located in the southwest of Iran, ١٥٠ kilometers east of Ahvaz. This field is one of the largest oil fields in the country, discovered in ١٩٦٤ and operational since ١٩٦٦. It is surrounded by the oil fields of Bibi Hakimeh, Pazanan, Ramshir, and Zaghe-Hendijan-Bahregansar.
Read more: Increase in oil prices considering the possibility of a military attack by the USA on Iran
The blowout of Well ١٤٧ was accompanied by multiple environmental hazards, including H₂S gas pollution and rising temperatures. Therefore, an emergency response committee and well control headquarters were established at the incident site, and rescue teams were quickly deployed.
Actions Taken to Control the Well
Designing and constructing access roads and creating ponds with a capacity of ٢٠٠,٠٠٠ barrels for water storage were among the actions taken to control the well. Additionally, the deployment and arrangement of machinery and installation of cooling and firefighting systems were also prioritized.
In this operation, ٩ models of stingers were designed and built for various scenarios. Furthermore, drilling of relief wells began in parallel with the clearing of the area around the blowout well, and two drilling rigs were stationed at the operational site of the Rag Sefid well. Vertical drilling was carried out with Rig ٩٣ to a depth of ٢,٣١٠ meters, continuing to ٢,٣٤٢ meters.
Moreover, pumping ١٣٠ barrels of water per minute through relief well C continued until the complete control of the blowout of Well ١٤٧. This operation lasted for ٥٨ days, with ٣٥ days following the installation of Rig ٩٣.
Finally, the blowout of Well ١٤٧ in the Rag Sefid field returned to normal on January ٥, ٢٠١٨, due to continuous efforts and precise planning. After this operation, wells ١٤٧C and ١٤٧B were also brought into operational status.
Read more: Hamidreza Hoshyari became the head of the Petrochemical Industries Development Management Company
