Deep search: for ONGC off India
ONGC dives into deep waters
India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has had drilling success on the high-potential Block KG-DWN-98/2 in deep water off the country’s east coast.
Co-venturer Cairn India said the KT-1 cretaceous exploration well spudded in June and completed operations in September.
The well successfully appraised the shallow D gas discovery, but failed to reach deep targets for operational reasons.
It was a follow-up well to the UD-1 exploration well that attracted widespread local media interest late last year on the grounds it was a huge discovery.
Cairn said only that the UD-1 well encountered gas in a secondary objective.
ONGC and Cairn India have agreed to enter the third exploration phase on KG-DWN-98/2 and the operator has plans to run further 3D seismic data and drill an appraisal well in 2007 or early 2008.
"A review of the discoveries made on this block to date is nearing completion and will form the basis for further appraisal drilling,” Cairn said.
Five exploration wells were drilled in this block between the third quarter of 2005 and the fourth quarter of 2006. Two hit gas-bearing sands and the other three flowed gas during testing.
Owners of Block KG-DWN-98/2 are operator ONGC (90%) and Cairn Energy (10%). Brazil's Petrobras is reportedly about to enter the permit through an arrangement with ONGC.