Enron disclosed earlier this month gas production has begun from Tapti field, about 60 miles off the western industrial city of Hazira, north of Bombay (OGJ, Apr. 7, 1997, p. 40).
Output from reservoirs classified by Enron as Tapti field is expected to reach 150 MMcfd by yearend 1997 (see map).
Enron said, "The participants believe that this level of produc- tion...can be maintained for a period of 25 years, resulting in aggregate production of 1 tcf of natural gas or more."
Gas Authority of India Ltd. is purchasing the gas.
Enron has a 30% working interest in Tapti field. Partners are India's Reliance Industries Ltd. 30% and India's Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) 40%.
East of Bombay High field, the group is also developing oil reserves from Panna field and Mukta field areas.
Tapti, other work
The government awarded Tapti field in February 1994 as one of 21 offshore fields offered for private development in India's first such international bid solicitation. A production-sharing contract was signed in December 1994.
Since then, the group has invested more than $250 million installing three wellhead platforms, one processing platform, and one flare platform, as well as drilling wells and laying an offshore pipeline to deliver gas to ONGC's pipeline system.
In addition to Tapti joint-venture development, the group continues to expand crude oil production from Mukta and Panna.
Altogether, the Enron group has invested more than $500 million to develop the three areas.
Enron said a similar level of investment is planned in the coming years, resulting in a total investment of more than $1 billion.
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