ONGC plans 134 exploration wells in Cambay basin

ONGC's western onshore basin at Vadodara is preparing for a public hearing to clear a massive Rs1447cr ($207m) exploration drilling campaign in line with wider efforts to boost flagging production across the country.

ONGC will hold the hearing at 2pm on June 18 at Majra village in northeast Gujarat to clear plans to drill 134 exploration wells across 32 mining leases in the Cambay basin over five years. "This campaign is a long-term programme to explore deeper prospects," an ONGC source tells us.

"Depending on its success we may drill additional wells." ONGC, he adds, will first have to shoot, process and interpret 2D and 3D across some blocks before drilling begins.

ONGC expects to take 30 to 60 days to drill each well to around 1800 metres TD. Fifteen wells are planned at the PADRA and PADRA EXT-I to IX blocks; another eight at Hirapur; seven wells each at Valod and Valod EXT-I & II, and Wadu and WADU EXT-I; six wells each at PALIYAD-KALOL-LIMBODRA, Sanand and SANAND EXT-I to III, Varsoda-Halisa and Varsoda-Halisa EXT-I; five wells each at GAMIJ and GAMIJ EXT-I to III, NANDEJ, NANDEJ East and NANDEJ EXT-I, Nawagam and Nawagam EXT-I & III, Siswa, and Akhaljuni; and four wells each at Ahmedabad EXT-I to V, Halisa, Kalol (main) and KALOL EXT-I and II, Kalol West and KALOL WEST EXT-I & II, Chaklasi-Rasnol and Chaklasi-Rasnol EXT-1, and Nawagam South EXT-I to III.