Mumbai oil spill: ONGC to repair pipeline in 4-5 days

 "The line is expected to be repaired and normal flow restored in 4 to 5 days," the company said two days after the leak was detected and plugged.

There are "no visible signs of oil slick on the sea surface near the site of pipeline leakage," it said, adding, "However, two Coast Guard vessels are at site for surveillance and monitoring."ONGC resumed oil production from its Mumbai High fields by using an alternative sub-sea pipeline hours after the production was halted due to a leak in Mumbai Uran Trunk crude pipeline on Friday.

The company said operations at oilfields were nearly normal and that the fields were presently producing at the rate of 300,000 barrels per day as against normal level of 320,000 bpd.

ONGC's multi-support vessel 'Samudra Prabha', equipped with repair assessment facilities and divers had located the leakage point. "The most probable reason of leakage is fouling of anchor wire rope, of a construction barge working in the vicinity, with the sub-sea valve assembly of Mumbai High Trunk (MUT) line," ONGC said.

"Cleaning of the area with high pressure jets is underway to ascertain the extent of damage. All the required material for repairs is available on board MSVs. The line is expected to be repaired and normal flow restored in 4 to 5 days," it added.