Environmental damage assessment of gas well blow-outs

Following blow-out of two gas wells one after the other at the time of drilling in Sylhet in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh huge damage to the environment and property was incurred. As a consequence NIKO was required to compensate the effected parties. To keep the effected parties from imposing arbitrary or exaggerated claim NIKO asked Crown Agents Bangladesh to assess and monitor the damage.

Crown Agents undertook the study and reported damages to surrounding property, paddy fields, vegetable fields, trees, ponds, ground water, houses and also to wild life such as animal, birds and fishes. The damage was assessed to be about US$100,000.

Following the damage assessment of the effected area NIKO asked Crown Agents to monitor the air and water quality and recovery of the vegetation and wild life. This work continued for a year during which time considerable recovery was observed.