BOMBAY HIGH accounts for 40% of ONGC's total 500,000 barrel per day of oil output and stretches 75 kilometres long by 25 kilometres wide in the Western Offshore area. Although it has been compared with North Sea giants, there is a perception in Indian industry circles that ONGC has not handled the field with the tender loving care it deserved and this has led to a rapid decline in the field's output.
High noon for Bombay High
THE BOMBAY High oilfield in the Arabian Sea has been the jewel in the crown for India's state-controlled upstream monolith Oil and Natural Gas Corporation since it was discovered in 1974 and brought into production 18 months later. The field has lately hit the local headlines because critics allege it has been mishandled, even raped . Field boss Vinod Kumar Sharma labels this talk ignorant and says the field is going through an anticipated mid-life crisis. ONGC's $2 billion redevelopment plan to inject new life into the ageing field is due for launch later this month, and industry pundits say the success of this programme is key to ONGC's future. Failure could have dire consequences.
8 December 2000 0:00 GMT
Updated
8 December 2000 0:00 GMT
