Lubricant leak scares fishers in Chennai

It is not crude oil but harmless bentonite, says CPCL official

Morning shock: Bentonite, which is a mix of gypsum and earth, leaked from a drilling site at the Kasimedu fishing harboud on Sunday morning.

Fishermen in Kasimedu panicked on Sunday when they found a murky looking substance spreading over the water surface at 6.30 a.m.

The brown coloured substance was bentonite, a mix of gypsum and earth, used as a lubricant during drilling. Fishermen said that since there was loud noise and the liquid spread near boats stationed there, some of them informed the police.

Soon, the police got in touch with the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) officials, who contacted the contractor working at the site for crude oil pipeline that is being laid. Bentonite is used to reduce damage to the pipeline and prevent the earth layers inside the hole from being disturbed much.

The leak perhaps happened due to a soft pocket or an old bore hole through which the lubricant spread. “It is not crude oil,” an official from CPCL said.

“Our men are along the pipeline throughout the time we work. We cordoned off the area and contained the leak.

The material is harmless and has more salt content. It is used in homes for electrical earthing systems,” the official said.