April start for Vindhyan 4-well campaign
ONGC has delayed its plans to begin drilling four 'wildcat' exploration wells at its Vindhyan basin block VN-ONN-2009/3 in Madhya Pradesh until April next year (2016).
ONGC was originally aiming to begin the Rs160cr ($24m) campaign around October this year, soon after the end of the monsoon season. But a senior ONGC source explains it only managed to get environmental clearance on October 27 after submitting detailed answers in July to environment ministry queries.
ONGC now needs to apply for a second six-month extension to Phase-I beyond March 31, 2016. The first well R-HAT-A will be drilled to 2800 metres TD at Luhari village in Damoh district.
This campaign is not to be confused with a separate four-well programme planned at the Damoh-Jabera-Katni PEL. Our ONGC source further clarifies that the environmental clearance is only for exploration not development.
