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Monday, Aug 03, 2009
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Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Monday, Aug 03, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version | Audio | Blogs |
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Petroleum Corporate - New Projects Web Extras - Outlook
Our Bureau Kochi, Aug. 2 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which started drilling operations in the Kerala-Konkan basin, has said that the early results of the ultra deep oil exploration will be available in 100 days. ONGC had identified the area as Cochin Offshore, which is 70 nautical miles from the Cochin coast, said Mr R.S. Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, ONGC. He was addressing a press conference here on Sunday after inaugurating the spudding operations in the basin, which is the beginning of the drilling operations for oil exploration. ONGC, he said, plans to carry out exploration activities to a depth of 6,500 metre. This is for the first time that ultra deep explorations are being carried out in the region, he added. Ongoing exerciseONGC is engaged in exploratory activities in the Kerala-Konkan offshore since 1977 and over this period 12 exploratory wells have been drilled in the basin. However, commercial hydrocarbon strike remains elusive in spite of few wells giving hydrocarbon indications. Of this, nine are in the shallow waters where exploration activities are undertaken at a depth of less than 400 metres. The results of the shallow water exploration activities were not encouraging, Mr Sharma said. Two exploratory wells are being dug in the ultra deep waters. In the first phase, drilling operations will be carried out to a depth of 2,080 metres and this process is expected to be completed within a month, Mr D.K. Pande, Director (Exploration), said.
ONGC has identified one more location in the region for ultra deep exploration and the project for the second one would be finalised only after assessing the outcome of the present exploration, he said. The oil exploration activities, which are currently being undertaken require Rs 400 crore at an average expense of Rs 4 crore a day. The materials and other logistic support for the exploration will come from the Kakinada establishment of the corporation. Mr U.N. Bose, Director (Technology and Field Services), pointed out that the exploration activities in the ultra deep waters is a challenging task as it has to carried out at a depth of 2,000 metres or below. There is also the possibility of gaseous escape leading to environmental concerns. The positioning of the drill ship is another major challenge in the operations as the vessel should stay in a position and not drift even by a few inches. ONGC to step up investment in non-conventional energy sources ONGC keen to restart exploration on Kochi-Konkan coast More Stories on : Petroleum | New Projects | Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd | Outlook
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