Blackford rig expected in Sept.
Oil India is hoping it can obtain environmental clearance before rig Blackford Dolphin reaches Indian waters to begin drilling at its Andaman offshore and Kerala-Konkan blocks.
On July 27 (2024), Oil India submitted its application to the environment ministry for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and environmental clearance. Oil India received CRZ from Andaman authorities on July 24 (2024) but now needs CRZ from the environment ministry in Delhi.
"We were waiting for CRZ clearance from the Andaman government," says a company source, explaining the delay. He believes securing the environment ministry green light should not take long as all other documentation is in place.
Blackford Dolphin, meanwhile, has passed through African waters and is on its way to India, according to marinetraffic.com (on August 20, 2024). "The rig should reach Indian waters in the first week of September (2024)," adds a source.
Blackford's mobilisation for Oil India was earlier in doubt because of the arrest of the rig in Nigeria. Blackford set sail from Nigeria on July 1 (2024), when Dolphin confirmed "the submission of a $20m bank guarantee and the removal of Blackford from Nigerian waters; the rig will continue the transit to India to commence the next contract."
Oil India hopes to secure clearances in time to begin drilling in mid-September (2024) at its offshore OALP-2 blocks AN-OSHP-2018/1 and AN-OSHP-2018/2 and offshore OALP-3 block KK-OSHP-2018/1. Oil India wants to drill at least three exploration wells across AN-OSHP-2018/1 and AN-OSHP-2018/2.
Wells OAEA and OAEB will be drilled at AN-OSHP-2018/1 to 4250 metres TD. Oil India's third 'firm' well, OAWB at AN-OSHP-2018/2, will be drilled in water depths of 93 metres to around 3000 metres TD.
Also planned is an exploration well OKKA in the Kerala-Konkan block KK-OSHP-2018/1, spread across 3519.69 sq km off the west coast. Oil India will drill this well in water depths of 61 metres to 5500 metres TD.