Oil flowing from abandoned well in Atyrau oblast

Oil is flowing from an abandoned well in Atyrau oblast, KazTAG reports citing the press-service of oblast Emergency Situations Department. “An oil spill covering 600 square meters was discovered near an abandoned well at Saryshagul-4 section in Kurmangazy region,” the message states. According to the Department, this well was drilled back in the 1980s and was later abandoned and plugged. Local ecologies notified the authorities about the spill earlier but the well has not been registered in the list of self-flowing wells until today. 89 emergency (self-flowing) wells are registered at the territory of Atyrau oblast. 88 of them are located at contracted territories of oil companies. Only one well at Saryshagyl-4 has no owner.