Karachi: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) begins the process to contain and extinguish a great mysterious fire that exploded last month during the drilling of a well in Korangi Creek near an oil refinery after a report of the chemical analysis of the samples of groundwater and the ground shows the presence of benzne gases and toluenos and minerals such as iron and magnet Great concentration in great concentration in great concentration.
Korangi’s deputy commissioner, Masood Bhutto, confirmed that experts in question had presented their report on the Korangi Creek fire incident.
He said Sunrise The report showed the presence of ‘heavy metals’ and the presence of gases such as benzene in large quantities.
Regarding the future action course after the expert’s report, the DC said the PPL would initiate the process of containing the fire with the help of experts.
Korangi DC says that the initial report shows the presence of several gases, ground minerals, groundwater samples
Subsequently, the gas exploration would be carried out to see the reach of the presence of gas to areas of five kilometers.
He recalled that initially, PPL experts presumed it that there were “shallow gases” that could be exhausted. Therefore, the administration and firefighters had stopped the operation of extinguishing the fire in the experts’ council, since it could be harmful.
“But now, since gases have not been consumed and the intensity of the flames has remained the same during the last eight days, people’s experts have considered appropriate to start an exploration activity to find gases inside the deposit,” he said.
The DC recalled that during the construction of a high height project, the drilling for a well was carried out up to 1,200 feet that could have broken the “shale” and the gases emitted, which triggered the fire that did not stop so far.
The rescue-122 spokesman Hassaan Khan also confirmed that the results of the experts regarding the chemical analysis of boiling water had been shared with them.
Sharing the essence of the report, Khan said that it has been observed that excessive amounts of benzene, toluene and tetrachloroethane have been found in boiling water.
Regarding the amount of the chemicals found in the water, he said that according to the chemical analysis, the tetrachloroethane was detected in 33 micrograms per liter instead of the five micrograms allowed per liter.
The preliminary chemical report also shows that the level of benzene was 19 micrograms per liter instead of the five permitted micrograms. Similarly, Toluene was detected at 15 micrograms per liter, exceeding the allowed limits of five micrograms.
In the report, the iron level was 181.6 mg/l against the report limit of 0.005; The arsenic was 0.014 mg/l; Manganese 2,721mg/L; and the lead was 0.032 mg/l against RL of 0.005.
Rescue 1122 spokesman said that the report of chemical experts shows that there was a concentration of chemicals, but the exact amount of chemicals at the site of the burning within the meter/deposit was not yet known.
In a recent presentation to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, TPL Properties had declared that during a preliminary investigation of the site near Korangi Creek, his team found an underground gas pocket while drilling a test well for water exploration.
“Based on the initial technical evaluations, as well as the independent opinions expressed by industry experts, they indicate that gas can be shallow biogenic methane, a natural gas that occurs with the decomposition of the organic material. Since this area is not due to a part of a known natural gas deposit, and this similar gas pocket is expected to be a similar gas pocket, this gas pocket is naturally dissipated by wing of the wings burns.
“The recent evidence was part of a series of extensive studies carried out in the last two years to strengthen our commitment to responsible and well -planned development. These evaluations, carried out in collaboration with the main national and international consulting firms, include geotechnical studies, soil composition and contamination tests, electrical resistivity surveys, an environmental impact assessment and comprehensive social impact and other basal studies.
“All field investigations, including the recent hydrological study, were carried out with the necessary approvals of the relevant authorities and in full compliance with the regulatory standards,” he added.
Posted in Dawn, April 7, 2025
