Efforts to Contain Boysun Gas Leak Continue After Four Fatalities
The gas leak at the Boysun M-25 gas field remains unresolved as authorities continue their work to address the situation. Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, stated that emergency crews still require an additional two to three days to fully prepare, even though significant progress has been made. International specialists and state-of-the-art equipment have been brought in to help resolve the issue. Should these efforts fall short, alternative measures may extend the resolution period by up to 2-3 months.
The gas leak began on September 1st and contains dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide. Despite multiple attempts to control the situation, the leak has not yet been entirely contained.
The Energy Minister stressed that foreign experts are actively working on the site, where the gas field remains operational. He noted that Uzbekistan has previously experienced six similar industrial incidents, each of which took between three and six months to resolve completely. The well’s pressure is extremely high, and the initial event caused structural damage. Although a temporary plug was installed, gas, containing high levels of hydrogen sulfide, managed to escape through the fractured areas.
Currently, international experts from leading companies such as Cudd Well Control, Halliburton, Schlumberger, and SOCAR from Azerbaijan are involved in the containment process. Given the hazardous conditions, teams work in short, 30-minute intervals while using specialized masks and oxygen tanks, with frequent rotations to maintain continuous efforts.
In the next few days, a new device is going to be installed to fully seal the well. If successful, the issue could be resolved quickly. However, if this approach does not work, they will have to drill a relief well near the original. This could add another two to three months to the process.
The minister clarified that emergency services, medical teams, and technical staff were mobilized immediately after the incident on September 1. Local residents in the nearby village of Kofrun were quickly evacuated, and essential resources like food and shelter were provided.
Mirzamakhmudov reassured the public that while the gas leak involves toxic hydrogen sulfide, the situation remains under control. He further explained that such incidents are not uncommon in Uzbekistan’s other gas fields, such as Muborak, Shurtan, and Gazli, where strict safety regulations are enforced to monitor gas concentrations. The emergency teams were initially focused on resolving technical difficulties, which caused delays in disseminating information to the public.
The minister confirmed that a second incident at the gas field on September 17 resulted in the deaths of four workers due to a gas leak triggered by unusual atmospheric pressure. Although the initial leak from September 1 had been contained by September 15, the second event further complicated the situation.
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