Exxon called in for technical assistance – CDC Head

Natural gas explosion in Diamond

– residents looking for compensation

Key local agencies are currently monitoring the natural gas explosion at a residence in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and have since enlisted the support of United States oil giant ExxonMobil as well as Massy Gas Products.
Guyana Times understands that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are all working together along with the joint services to monitor and contain the eruption.
At about 18:00h on Thursday, construction workers were drilling a well at the Lot 1200 Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’, Great Diamond residence when they hit a natural gas

pocket, causing an immediate explosion that lasted the entire night, with fluctuating eruptions of various substances, including soot.
Head of the CDC (ag), Colonel Kester Craig, on Friday said the US oil company has offered its technical expertise to help with containing the situation.
“Since we have gotten the information last evening, we have pulled together all the key agencies and coordinated the response… One option that we are looking at, if we cannot stop it or contain it locally, Exxon has already said they’re willing to give some support, if that’s required,” he said.
According to the CDC head, GWI conducted some tests on Friday morning and detected some amount of methane, but the eruption has been fluctuating so they are continuing to conduct tests to determine the true value of the natural gas present.
Guyana Times understands that the owner of the house operates a water filtration business in Diamond, and it is suspected that the well was being drilled to access water. When asked about whether permission was given for the drilling, Colonel Craig disclosed that the Hydrometeorological Service, the agency responsible for granting such permits, had indicated that no permission was given for any drilling at this location.
Going forward, the responding agencies will have to determine how to seal the pocket.
Back in 2009, a similar incident occurred at a residence in the Grove section of the scheme while the owner was drilling for water. The GGMC had managed to cap the eruptions and construct a metal structure to capture the gas. However, Craig explained that GGMC has indicated Thursday’s explosion is larger than the one which occurred about a decade ago.
Nevertheless, GGMC’s Senior Petroleum Technologist, Mitchell Prince, told the Ministry of the Presidency that the agency will be setting up a contraption to contain the natural gas.
“The plan is to run two sizes of casings into the orifice…we’re going to be using 18-inch casing …and 4-inch diameter casing…” Prince explained.
Meanwhile, Head of the EPA, Khemraj Parsram, on Friday posited that the reading from the natural gas emanating from the eruption is a bit high, but is not a significant cause for concern.
“So we’re just advising the residents in Sixth Avenue and in Fifth and Fourth streets just to take precautionary measures to ensure there is no ignition sources, that includes lights sources, open flames and so on; just precautionary, until we can monitor the situation and determine the best course of action,” Parsram explained.
Officers at the site said that if it reaches a stage where the air becomes severely contaminated, residents will be evacuated from the area.
In the meantime, emphasis is being placed on the advisory by the EPA and CDC that residents in the area desist from lighting matches, stoves, etc.
The Guyana Power and Light has since been ordered to cut the power to the area.
Meanwhile, surrounding neighbours of the Lot 1200 residence are also counting their losses. When <<Guyana Times>> revisited the scene on Friday morning, residents pointed out the various damages done to their properties as a result of the explosion.
One woman’s fence was broken, while the immediate back neighbour’s property was flooded and the back of the house was covered in a muddy substance that continued to emanate from the hole.
The affected residents expressed their expectation of receiving financial compensation.