Oilex to tender for 160-sq km 3D survey of Cambay
Oilex has abandoned plans to nominate Torun Geofyzika of Poland to carry out a 3D survey of its Cambay block in Gujarat.
Instead, the Australian company will go to tender. There are cost recovery issues with the DGH, reveals Oilex.
The JOA says all seismic work has to go to tender. If you dont follow procedure the DGH could argue the survey is not cost recoverable.
Adds the company: We also want to see if we can get the best deal. Oilex has doubled its 3D requirement from an earlier planned 80-sq km survey of the Cambay block to a 160-sq km survey that will cover the entire block area.
This week Oilex is expected to invite Expressions of Interest (EOI), with an option for two additional surveys of 15-sq km each over the much smaller Bhandut and Sabarmati fields. Oilex also has a 40% stake in each of these two fields and is awaiting formal ministry approval.
Any seismic acquisition option for Bhandut and Sabarmati will only kick in if approval comes in time. We sent in the paperwork t a month ago, says Oilex.
It normally takes 60 days so we need to wait another month. Once it receives EOIs from interested contractors Oilex will release tender documents and hopes to begin the seismic programme post-monsoon in November.
Earlier plans by Oilex to begin drilling its first well at Cambay by end-July have been put back to the first week of August following delays in the arrival of the Dalma Energy MR-1 rig, which is drilling for partner GSPC nearby. GSPC holds 55% of the Cambay block; Oilex holds 45%.
Oilex wants to drill two firm wells and one contingent well at Cambay. When spudded, the first well Cambay-71 will target oil and will be drilled to TD of 1830 metres to Eocene formations.
Second well Cambay-72 will also target oil and be drilled to similar depths. Third well Cambay-75, if drilled, will be drilled slightly deeper (1900 metres) because it is on the down throne thrust of a fault and target gas formations.
