GSPC and partners disagree over 'gas discovery'
Operator GSPC is in sharp disagreement with consortium partners over a potential gas discovery at its 1520-sq km shallow water NELP-VI block MB-OSN-2004/1 in the Mumbai Offshore.
IndianOil, GAIL, Hindustan Petroleum and Oman-headquartered Petrogas are sceptical about the commercial prospects of ‘gas indications’ at a Phase-I committed exploration well, completed in December. “GSPC is adamant the discovery well must be appraised,” says a source.
“But the partners don’t agree. We don’t want to drill appraisal wells.
” In December, operator GSPC discovered gas in two ‘zones’ at a well drilled to 3200 metres TD using Aban Offshore-owned and operated jack-up Aban-VII in water depths of 30 metres. “The first zone was at 2500 metres and the second zone was below that, closer to TD,” we hear.
GSPC carried out a Drill Stem Test over 20 days at the well - the second at this block - but ‘gas flow’ was ‘weak’. “A DGH representative witnessed the test,” we learn.
It seems the consortium first considered testing the well using a Modular Dynamics Tester (MDT) tool from Schlumberger but dropped the idea. “MDT testing is allowed only for deepwater blocks,” clarifies a DGH source.
“Operators must use conventional tools (DST) to test shallow water blocks.” He adds that MDT tools can collect a ‘sample’ from the well but only a DST can give a clear picture of production and reservoir potential.
Another consortium source says the gas discovery was insignificant. “Very little gas mixed with water was discovered,” we hear.
GSPC refuses to comment but the company is believed to be preparing a ‘discovery’ note for the DGH.
