ONGC wants to exploit Hatta discoveries in MP
ONGC wants to capitalise on its Hatta#2 discovery by drilling 15 wells at NELP-VIII block VN-ONN-2009/3 in the Category-II Vindhyan basin in Madhya Pradesh.
On October 24 (2024), ONGC applied to the environment ministry for clearance to begin drilling as soon as possible. "All planned locations fall in non-forest areas within the NELP block," says the Pre-Feasability Report (PFR) submitted in October 2024.
ONGC proposes to drill each vertical well up to 2400 metres at an estimated Rs25cr ($2.97m) cost per well. Five years ago, on February 14 (2019), ONGC announced what it described as an exciting 'new prospect' discovery at Hatta#2 in VN-ONN-2009/3, drilled to 2265 metres TD and which flow-tested 48,117 cm/d.
Since then, ONGC has drilled four appraisal wells nearby - all flowed gas. Under the current drilling programme, ONGC wants to develop the gas discovery and pursue more exploration leads elsewhere in the block through a mix of exploration, development and appraisal wells.
Each well will be drilled in two phases: first, the upper section of about 1000 to 1200 metres will be completed using air hammer drilling technology. Hard and abrasive Upper Vindhyan formations and the upper part of the Lower Vindhyan formations are targeted in the upper section of each well.
Air hammer drilling reduces rig time and cost by using air pressure to work a piston hitting the drill bit to penetrate challenging formations. After completing the upper section of each well, ONGC will reach the final depth using a conventional company-owned rotary drilling rig.
ONGC estimates each well will take 70 days to drill, including testing. After drilling Hatta#2, ONGC drilled appraisal wells Hatta#3 and Hatta#4.
Hatta#3 tested 64,194 cm/d gas. Next, ONGC drilled two more wells at the block, Hatta#5 and Hatta#6.
Hatta#5 was drilled to 2481 metres TD and flowed gas at 1722 cm/d, while Hatta#6 produced gas at a flow rate of 43,546 cm/d from 2000-2321 metres. The DGH approved ONGC's Declaration of Commerciality on October 6 (2023), and ONGC submitted the Field Development Plan (FDP) on May 31 (2024).