By an OGJ Online Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct. 26 -- India's Director General of Hydrocarbons has called for reevaluation of Oil & Natural Gas Corp.'s plan to spend 83 billion rupees to redevelop Bombay High oil field.
The official body called the proposed investment "imprudent," especially in view of past failures of Bombay High North and South developments to produce at predicted levels, despite an extra 65 wells being drilled.
ONGC expected Bombay High North to produce 105 million tons up to 2000 but output was about 14% less.
And the government questions ONGC's increased recovery estimates for the Bombay High South development, which were raised 18% from 238 million tons to 289 million for the period up to 2010.
Bombay High oil field has 1,724 million tons in place, of which 1,541 million tons are in the L-111 reservoir, for which ONGC has submitted two redevelopment plans.
Bombay High North produced 93 million tons by June, 2000, about 16.8% of initial oil in place of 552 million tons. Bombay High South has produced 199 million tons as of June 30, 2001, about 20% of initial oil in place of 989 million tons.