The authorities monitoring the well explosion that is suspected to have been caused by natural gas are yet to ascertain its true nature as investigations continue, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said yesterday.
Head of the CDC, Colonel Kester Craig, had posted via his Facebook Page that several agencies, including the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hydrometeorological Department, were contacted to conduct an assessment of what is suspected to be a natural gas explosion.
However, Captain Salim October, the Senior Response Officer of the CDC, stated that they are unable to confirm that it was natural gas that erupted and would not be able to say so until the EPA does its assessment.
October had related that there were drilling operations in the Kumaka area just off of Mabaruma, being conducted by a Brazilian company in collaboration with GWI. He had explained that there was an old well installation that was sealed last year and a current well that was being dug, which also failed as it was not producing the quantity of water that is required.
During the drilling process, there was an eruption at the old well site as well as the new one, but they were unsure whether it was caused by natural gas under the surface or gas that was injected into the wells during the drilling process.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday in an update on the situation, October said they still do not have clarity on whether it was an actual natural gas explosion, but the EPA and the Hydrometeorological Office are in the process of making further checks.
“The EPA has also issued a cease order to the company advising them to discontinue private drilling operations, pending permission from GWI. The Hydromet Office is supposed to have an officer doing further assessment as well,” he said.
October also noted that the EPA advised the company that well operations that were unsuccessful must go through a process of proper closure.
