Today the operating staff of Gazprom gazobezopasnost emergency blowout response forces of finished its exercise in the Astrakhan Oblast.

The exercises were held at the proving ground of the Dosang training center. The exercises brought together around sixty task unit heads and experts from the Astrakhan, Orenburg, Yamal and Central blowout response forces of Gazprom gazobezopasnost including a group from the departmental fire-fighting service of Gazprom dobycha Astrakhan. The invited party comprised representatives from Kazakhstan Emergency Ministry leadership and Wintershall Holding AG specialized subdivisions.

Elimination of fire at a training well under pressure was the main task of the exercise. An emergency center responsible for overall coordination and management was set up, where a fire elimination plan was elaborated; the composition of task units was approved and individual objectives were defined.

The participants had to demonstrate the skills required for using protective equipment, the knowledge of emergency safety rules as well as operative interaction among each other with ancillary services. The exercises resulted in the elimination of a gusher and preparation of a damaged well for repair activities.

The exercises involved application of new types of protection equipment and respirators allowing fighting gushes more efficiently.

It was noted at the follow-up meeting that the exercises had been a success and proved high professional skills of the personnel with regard to emergency response, its ability to apply modern equipment and administer first aid.

Background:

The blowout response exercises of the operating staff of Gazprom gazobezopasnost emergency blowout response forces have been annually conducted since 2000. The exercises are primarily targeted at improving the personnel’s skills in eliminating oil and gas gushes as well as testing novel protection equipment and outfits.

Gazprom gazobezopasnost, a Gazprom wholly owned subsidiary, deals with the supervision of compliance with gas safety rules and well operation technology.

The company is a professional emergency service and is included in the List of the federal constant alert forces of the unified state emergency response system.

Gazprom gazobezopasnost has a 35-year track record of eliminating oil and gas gushes (including the burning ones) in the USSR, Afghanistan, Poland, Romania and Kuwait.

The emergency blowout response forces of Gazprom gazobezopasnost are located near large fields and UGS facilities for the purpose of preventing and eliminating oil and gas gushes.