LONDON�Cairn Energy PLC Thursday said it had a third gas find on Block CB-OS/2 off Gujarat in Western India.
Exploration well CB-B-1, about 6 km southeast of the UK independent's recent Lakshmi gas discovery, reached a TD of 1,286 m, encountering several hydrocarbon pay zones below 753 m.
Two zones in the Gauri discovery�DST-2 and DST-3�tested and flowed gas at a cumulative rate of 39.2 MMcfd, while a third zone�DST-1�flowed oil at a stabilized rate of 1,039 b/d on a 32/64-in. choke. Cairn said the oil test was constrained by surface test equipment limitations.
A 3D seismic survey of Cairn's earlier Lakshmi and Ambe finds will be enlarged to include Gauri.
"This third discovery on Block CB-OS/2 significantly strengthens our gas marketing position in an area of high and yet unsatisfied energy demand," said company Chief Executive Bill Gammell.
Cairn said initial estimates are that the discovery, which is on trend with and southwest of Hazira field, holds 100-300 bcf of gas equivalent. An appraisal program is planned for the first half.
Cairn is considering development options for Gauri, which include tying it back to either Lakshmi or Hazira, or developing it alone.
