Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. subsidiary ONGC Videsh Ltd. on Sept. 29 spudded Kanchan#1 in Block SS04, offshore Bengal basin, Bangladesh, at Maheshkhali Island.
The well, expected to be drilled to a depth of 4,200 m to target two prospective formations, is the start of exploratory drilling in Bangladesh by the company. Drilling at two additional locations in the country will follow, the company said.
ONGC Videsh, in consortium with Oil India Ltd. (OIL), was awarded two shallow offshore blocks, SS-04 and SS-09, in Bangladesh in the 2012 bid round. ONGC Videsh is operator (45%) with partners OIL (45%) and Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Co. (10%).
