ONGC has received a Stop Production Order from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board regarding its Mori#05 well. The directive follows environmental violations stemming from an uncontrolled blowout event on January 5, 2026, during a workover operation by a third-party contractor. The company maintains that the well is currently closed and does not consider the impact of this order significant given the scale of its overall operations.
Incident Overview
On April 24, 2026, ONGC received an official order from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board mandating a halt to operations at the Mori#05 well located in the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District. This regulatory action follows an incident involving a well blowout and subsequent fire that occurred on January 5, 2026. The facility, which had been handed over to a third-party operator for production enhancement in 2025, has been the subject of scrutiny regarding compliance with environmental safety standards.
Well Status and Environmental Compliance
The Mori#05 well, originally drilled in March 1994, had remained inactive since April 2009. Following the blowout incident in early 2026, the company successfully capped the well on January 10, 2026, with the assistance of its internal crisis management team. The well has remained closed since that date.
Operational Impact
The regulatory authority cited the lack of necessary operational consents and concerns regarding potential environmental damage as the primary reasons for the Stop Production Order. Despite the issuance of this directive, management has stated that the impact on the company’s broader financial and operational health is not considered significant. ONGC is currently in the process of reviewing the order in detail to determine the necessary course of action.
Source: BSE
