ONGC plans 126-well campaign in Gujarat
Onland drillers can expect good business from ONGC this year as it prepares to begin an impressive 126-well exploration campaign at 30 onland blocks in Gujarat.
ONGC's Rs900cr ($169m) five-year drilling campaign in north Gujarat should begin by the last quarter of this year (2013). Together the 30 blocks cover 1122.25-sq km in the Mehsana, Patan, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad districts.
They spread over the Kadi, Unjha, Visnagar, Vijapur and Mehsana areas of Mehsana district; the Chanasma, Harij and Patan areas of Patan; the Kalol and Mansa areas of Gandhinagar; and Detroj Rampura in Ahmedabad. ONGC will hold mandatory public hearing to clear the entire 126 well drilling programme on February 22 at Chandrumana village in Patan.
Between seven to 10 rigs, each of 1000-hp to 1500-hp strength, will be hired and deployed alongside ONGC's own Cardwell-IV 150-tonne rigs. ONGC says it will carry out drilling operations 'round-the-clock' to complete the drilling programme.
Each well should typically take 30 to 35 days to complete to 3000 metres TD, but this can vary depending on the depth of the hydrocarbon bearing formation and the geological conditions. "Conventional rotary drilling methods will be used," says an ONGC source.
He adds that all 30 blocks fall in the Mehsana tectonic belt. "The belt is fairly well explored," adds our source.
"It's a productive hydrocarbon block of the North Cambay Basin." ONGC began exploring north Gujarat in the 1960s. Mehsana has a number of oil fields with multi-layered pays with ages ranging from Palaeocene to middle Miocene.
All 30 blocks are clubbed under six areas: Bechraji & Lanwa; Sathal & Balol; Jotana; Sobhasan Complex; Nandasan, Linch Langhnaj, Mansa & other satellite structures; and North Kadi.