By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 9 -- Reliance Industries Ltd., Mumbai, and Niko Resources Ltd., Calgary, added gas discoveries on blocks D-6 and NEC-25 in the Bay of Bengal off India's northeast coast.
The M-1 exploratory well, 19 km south-southeast of Dhirubhai field, encountered one of the thickest net pay sections to date on Block D-6 in the Krishna-Godavari basin. The discovery well went to 1,327 m in 2,942 m of water. It flowed 23.7 MMcfd of gas from a 6-m interval at 2,750 m. Operator Reliance estimated that M-1 cut 155 m of net pay.
M-1 is the 11th consecutive successful well drilled on the 1.9 million acre D-6 Block. All drilling to date has occurred in the first 1,800 sq km 3D seismic program that covers less than 20% of the block.
Another 2,500 sq km of 3D seismic data are being processed and merged with the initial 3D survey.
Meanwhile, the A2 well on Block NEC-25 in the Bengal basin off Calcutta tested at rates of as much as 15.8 MMcfd. Reliance estimated potential net pay at 40 m.
A2, in 70 m of water 2.2 km from the A4 gas discovery well, is the fourth straight gas discovery on NEC-25 (OGJ Online, June 30, 2004).
Plans are progressing for fast track gas production on NEC-25, Niko said. Further details on the discovery were to be released when available.
Working interests on both blocks are Reliance 90% and Niko 10%.
