More deepwater exploration expected in D3 block offshore India

Feb. 27, 2014
Hardy Oil and Gas expects exploration drilling to re-start this spring on block KG-DWN-2003/1 (D3) in the Krishna Godavari basin offshore eastern India.

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UKHardy Oil and Gas expects exploration drilling to re-start this spring on block KG-DWN-2003/1 (D3) in the Krishna Godavari basin offshore eastern India.

D3 operator Reliance Industries currently has the deepwater drillshipsDhirubhai Deepwater KG2 and Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 under contract in the region.

To date there have been four gas discoveries on the block, and the joint venture, including BP, has acquired about 3,250 sq km (1,255 sq mi) of 3D seismic data.

Hardy operates block CY-OS 90/1 in the Cauvery basin. This includes the PY-3 oilfield, 80 km (49.7 mi) south of Pondicherry in water depths ranging from 40-450 m (131-1,476 ft).

The company says the partners are working on an acceptable commercial framework to re-start production in early 2015, following approval for the development plan.

This should be achieved by securing the appropriate offshore production and storage facilities, and initiating planning for a development drilling program.

In the Gujarat-Saurashtra basin offshore India’s west coast, Hardy has a 10% stake in block GS-OSN-2000/1, where the operator recently decided to relinquish its 90% interest.

Hardy aims to acquire this interest in accordance with the block’s joint operating agreement.

In 2012 the partners submitted a detailed development plan for the Dhirubhai 33 natural gas discovery, based on dry tree wells, an unmanned platform, a multi-phase pipeline to shore, and onshore processing and export facilities.

02/27/2014