High-pressure gas leak in Muynak contained after one month

A high-pressure gas leak at the Muynak field in the Muynak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan has been fully contained, one month after the incident. This was reported by Uzbekneftegaz JSC.

According to the company, an operational headquarters was established to eliminate the leak, working around the clock. The team included members of Uzbekistan’s militarized unit for the prevention and elimination of open fountains, territorial divisions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, other responsible agencies, and specialists from local khokimiyats.

The headquarters developed an operational “roadmap” for sealing the well. The work was carried out step by step with the assistance of partner organizations.

As of today, all tasks outlined in the plan have been completed. The well has been brought under control with the help of qualified specialists and specialized equipment.

The company reported that the operation was completed without accidents or casualties. Around 200 workers involved in the complex plugging operation were awarded certificates of appreciation and commemorative souvenirs.

The incident occurred on July 26 of this year during drilling operations at the Muynak field, located in the Uchsoy neighborhood of Muynak district. Gas was detected at a depth of 4,707 meters in well No. 1, which was planned to reach 5,000 meters. This is the first well drilled at this field.

It is worth recalling a similar incident that occurred on September 1 last year during drilling at well No. 604 of the “Mustaqillikning 25 yilligi” field in the Kofrun neighborhood of Boysun district, Surkhandarya region. In that case, a technological failure caused a hydrogen sulfide gas leak, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents. Senior officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister, visited the site as part of the response.

On September 14, at approximately 13:05, an anti-leakage device (PVO) was installed on the pipe leading from the drilling tower, and the entire system was pressurized the next day. Later that day, barite solution was injected, and by 16:50, the gas leak had been stopped. At a press briefing on September 18, Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Jusipbek Kazbekov said no high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were being emitted from the site, describing the incident as a technical failure. However, Uktam Utayev, head of the Prosecutor General’s Office department overseeing environmental legislation, reported two fatalities, a figure that later rose to four. Eleven others were hospitalized following the incident. On September 17, at 16:00, high-pressure hydrogen sulfide again leaked from well No. 604, prolonging the emergency response efforts.