Damaged well sealed, but gas leakage continues

SYLHET, Jan 16: Sealing of the damaged drilling well at Magurchhara has been completed.

However, gas leakage through many points around the well is still continuing, sources in the area said today.

A Petrobangla official who visited the site also confirmed leakage of gas.

Meanwhile, the Occidental is transporting its equipment and machinery including the drilling rig from the Magurchhara site to Sylhet. The transportation began three days back.

The Occidental has also withdrawn most of the security men it had hired from a private company and deployed there.

The "restricted area" which was earlier earmarked by netted fence has also been reduced, the source added.

An official of the Occidental told this correspondent on condition of anonymity that it was transporting the major equipment and machinery from Magurchhara and that the 'restricted area' and security men were reduced.

Sources in the area also said that local people were seen collecting huge scraps from around the damaged well, some taking among those on rickshaws and pushcarts.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Nurul Amin told this correspondent over telephone this afternoon what, he was not aware of the latest situation at Magurchhara. He said, the Occidental had stopped giving him written statement on Magurchhara since the beginning of this month.

When contacted, an official of Occidental's Sylhet office said, "We have reduced jobs at Magurchhara and for the time being, it will be stopped." He declined to give details.