The mysterious fire that erupted in Korangi Creek due to gas leakage finally extinguished itself after hectic efforts of 18 days, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel on Tuesday.
However, gas emission from the pit is still underway, leading to the eruption of water, which had been initially used by the firefighters to douse the blaze at the site.
The fire, which started after a 1,200-foot-deep bore was drilled at the site on March 29 located in a vacant plot of private housing society, had led to concerns about the type and volume of gas responsible for the blaze.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the blaze extinguished itself, adding that a gas pocket existed at the site.
Pointing out that such incidents are common in Balochistan's Sui area — known for gas reserves — Khan said that no loss of life occurred due to the Korangi fire and that a fire brigade team is still present at the site as the smell of gas was spreading around the affected area.
The unexpected and rather abrupt end to the blaze comes after not only the Ministry of Petroleum had established a committee to test methane gas but also engaged a team of experts from Cudd Well Control — a US-based firm globally renowned for its expertise in well control and emergency response — to consult on the Korangi Creek fire.
A joint site visit was recently conducted by technical teams from Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and United Energy Pakistan Limited, comprising professionals from the drilling, completions, and QHSE (quality, health, safety & environment) disciplines.
Reporter: Usama Malik