ONGC applies to drill 16 wells at 2 blocks
ONGC is moving fast with a new Rs252cr ($30m) plan to drill 16 wells and shoot seismic at onland Cambay basin OALP-6 blocks CB-ONHP-2020/1 and CB-ONHP-2021/1.
On July 14 (2023), ONGC applied to Gujarat's State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) for clearance, attaching a nine-page Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). At the 44.13-sq km CB-ONHP-2020/1 block straddling Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts, ONGC plans to shoot 44.13-sq km 3D and drill ten exploration wells in the three-year exploration period from February 13 (2023) to February 12 (2026).
ONGC will drill the ten wells up to 2200 metres using a 1200 or 1500-hp company-owned or hired rig. At the 113.74-sq km CB-ONHP-2021/1 block in Ahmedabad district, ONGC plans to shoot 113.74-sq km 3D and drill six exploration wells during the exploration period from December 13 (2022) until December 12 (2025).
Under the OALP regime, securing extensions for work commitments is challenging, explaining why ONGC wants to accelerate work. "The CWPs (Committed Work Programmes) of both OALP blocks are time bound, and the programme needs to be completed within the validity of the exploration period," stresses ONGC in its application.
ONGC received the oil ministry licence for CB-ONHP-2020/1 on May 30 (2022) and a PEL from the state government on February 13 (2023). For CB-ONHP-2021/1, the oil ministry awarded the licence on May 27 (2022), and Gujarat granted the four-year PEL on December 13 (2022).
On May 6 (2022), ONGC won 18 of 21 blocks (15 onland, four shallow water and two ultra-deepwater) on offer in OALP-6, launched on August 6 (2021). Oil India won two blocks, and Sun Petrochemicals won one.
ONGC was the sole bidder for the CB-ONHP-2020/1 block but beat SunPetro to win CB-ONHP-2021/1. Our June 1 (2023) edition reported that ONGC is preparing to drill ten exploration wells for Rs200cr ($24m) at another OALP-6 block: CB-ONHP-2021/2 in South Gujarat's Bharuch district.