GSPC hires Blade Energy for new exploration well
GSPC is planning a single exploration well at the 20.5-sq km extended contract area of the Deen Dayal West field beginning end December or early next year.
PETROWATCH learns GSPC completed ‘soil coring’ for well DDW-EXT-1 at the offshore shallow water KG-OSN-2001/3 discovery block in late July. Sitting in water depths of 80 metres, work at DDW-EXT-1 is going slow because of delayed clearance from the forest and environment ministry in Delhi.
“Once clearance comes,” says GSPC, “we can start work by the year-end or early next year.” GSPC plans to drill well DDW-EXT-1 to TD of 5000 metres.
“When we complete drilling,” adds GSPC, “we will have a better idea of reserves in the extended area.” GSPC commissioned UK-based Gaffney Cline & Associates (GCA) earlier this year to study the incremental reserves potential of the extended contract area.
GCA’s initial feedback suggests current 2P reserves of 1.6-tcf at the Deen Dayal West field will rise by 11%. Also in July, Houston-based oil services provider Blade Energy visited GSPC in Gandhinagar to finalise well preparations.
“Blade will prepare the scope of work,” adds GSPC, “and work in consultation with the GSPC drilling team.” Blade is already working on a similar contract at Deen Dayal East, where Deep Driller-I from Aban Offshore has drilled a second appraisal well.
GSPC says Schlumberger will most likely be hired as its petro-physics consultant for the extended 20.5-sq km contract area. Schlumberger is already carrying out petrophysical interpretation for GSPC at Deen Dayal West.
Two years ago (August 11, 2010) the oil ministry granted GSPC a 17-sq km extension of the block and on January 18 this year it agreed another 20.5-sq km extension, bringing the total area to 37.5-sq km.