ONGC’s board has approved a feasibility report on redeveloping the marginal B-173A offshore western India to improve its recovery factor.

The field was discovered in 1992, 50 km (31 mi) west of Mumbai in a water depth of around 55 m (180 ft) with 16.27 MM tons of oil and 2 bcm gas in-place.

Five development wells were drilled when the project was launched in 1994. Currently the field produces 1,870 b/d of oil with 87% water cut due to active water drive.

ONGC’s redevelopment proposal calls for installation of one bridge-linked wellhead platform and the drilling and completion of three development wells at an investment of 352.49 crore.

With this additional input, recovery should rise from a base case of 16.98% to 20.36% of OIIP (Oil Initial In-place).

The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2014.

ONGC also plans to bring forward production from the Phase-II Heera offshore redevelopment.

Heera and South Heera fields are 70 km (43 mi) southwest of Mumbai in an average water depth of around 50 m (164 ft).

They have been developed in phases from March 1983, encompassing Heera Ph-I, II, III, and the South Heera field development.

With the monsoon due to set in during mid-2012, ONGC’s board decided to approve a scheme to ensure early production of oil and gas through three “clamp-on” structures at the HZ, HG, and HJ platforms, of which two will be completed prior to the monsoon’s arrival.

Drilling could then be conducted in the slots of the clamp-on facilities even during the monsoon, which would make early production possible from these wells during 2012-13 and 2013-14.