ONGC wants rig for Cauvery discovery
ONGC could soon be looking to hire a 1500-hp land rig to drill two appraisal wells at its 210-sq km NELP-IV onland Cauvery basin block CY-ONN-2002/2 in Tamil Nadu.
But ONGC is still waiting for clearances from the environment ministry and the Tamil Nadu government before it begins appraisal drilling at the Madnam-3 discovery, announced in March 2012. Well Madnam-3 is located 14-km southeast of Chidambaram town, known for its Hindu temple of Lord Shiva and flowed 35-degree API oil and 11,500 cm/d of gas during testing.
"We believe Madnam-3 has good potential," says a senior ONGC source. "The discovery has opened a new ‘play’ because it is the first time we've made a discovery at the 'basement' of the Cauvery basin.
" ONGC says it is talking to Tamil Nadu authorities to secure clearances to drill the appraisal wells before April 2014.
