A team of U.S. experts has joined forces with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to tackle a significant gas blowout at a well in Assam's Sivasagar district. The incident, which began on June 12, 2025, at the Rudrasagar oil field, has prompted a large-scale response, including the evacuation of local communities and the deployment of specialized resources.

The gas blowout occurred at well RDS#147A, located in the Barichuk area of the Rudrasagar oil field. A private firm, S K Petro Services, was operating the well on behalf of ONGC when the incident took place. Since then, ONGC's Crisis Management Team has been working to contain the uncontrolled release of natural gas.

Recognizing the complexity of the situation, ONGC enlisted the expertise of CUDD Pressure Control, a U.S.-based company specializing in well control and blowout emergencies. A three-member team of well control specialists from CUDD Pressure Control arrived on-site on Friday, June 20, 2025, and immediately began assessing the situation.

According to ONGC, the U.S. experts have reviewed the containment efforts undertaken so far and have expressed their agreement with the strategy and execution. The experts' involvement signals the complexity and severity of the Rudrasagar incident, which has become one of the most significant industrial emergencies in Assam this year.

The arrival of the American experts marks a critical escalation in efforts to contain the emergency, which has forced the evacuation of nearly 350 families who remain displaced in relief camps while authorities battle to bring the situation under control. The blowout has proven resistant to multiple interventions by ONGC's crisis management team, with various containment techniques, including multiple "Junk Shot" operations, failing to plug the dangerous gas leakage.

The CUDD Well Control team brings decades of experience in handling some of the world's most challenging well control emergencies. Following their arrival, the American specialists held extensive consultations with top ONGC officials before proceeding directly to the blowout site for a detailed situational analysis. The team's assessment will determine the specific advanced techniques required to successfully cap the well and terminate the gas discharge.

ONGC has been maintaining rigorous safety protocols throughout the crisis, implementing continuous water blanketing operations around the site to prevent potential fire hazards. The corporation is also continuously monitoring the low explosive limit (LEL) levels of air around the well site through real-time gas detectors to ensure safety. Medical assistance is being provided at the relief camp to support all those in need.

The company has commenced the process of removing tubulars from the well, and the mobilization of cranes for removing tubing from the rig floor is in progress. Water blanketing continues around the clock as a key safety measure, and flood-level monitoring of the nearby Dikhow River remains ongoing to ensure all operations align with environmental and safety protocols.

Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the composition of the gas is free from H2S, CO, and CO2 and is 97% methane, which is lighter than air and disperses quickly. Air quality around the well site is being continuously monitored and is found to be within safe limits just 50-100 meters from the well mouth. The gas pressure has also fallen from 2600 psi to 500 psi.

ONGC is preparing for advanced well-killing techniques while systematically removing non-essential equipment from the vicinity to minimize operational risks. Engineers have also developed an alternate access route to ensure safer movement of personnel and equipment around the volatile site.

The prolonged nature of the blowout has raised concerns about the environmental impact and the welfare of displaced families. The collaboration between ONGC and the U.S. experts from CUDD Pressure Control represents a determined effort to bring the situation under control and mitigate any further damage.