HOEC talks to Expro and Zentech for Mumbai block

HOEC chief Pandarinathan Elango is confident UK-based oil and gas service provider Expro can replicate its success in Assam at DSF-1 block B-80 or MB/OSDSF/B-80/2016 off Mumbai.

Elango tells this report HOEC is in talks with Expro to set up an offshore gas processing facility and is also talking to Houston-based engineering firm Zentech about converting an old rig to a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) for B-80 where it aims to begin operations by April 2020. "We might go with Expro for the offshore gas processing plant," confirms Elango.

"They provided us with a modular (gas processing) plant at Dirok (in Assam under a contract worth over $30m awarded in September 2016)." Elango stresses he is "extremely happy" with Expro's performance at Dirok.

HOEC also wants a contractor to convert old offshore rig Key Gibralter (KGB) bought in March 2019 from Dubai-based Shelf Drilling, to an MOPU. "This rig is sitting at a yard in Sharjah," adds Elango.

"We are looking for a Middle East yard to do the work which will cost a few hundred crore (rupees). We are in talks with Zentech - they are the best and we're negotiating packages to clear the deck, strengthen it, and hook up the oil and gas processing unit."

Zentech's past clients include Petrobras, BP and Baker Hughes, according to its website. In the past it has also worked with ONGC and has offices in both Sharjah and India.