Offshore staff
MUMBAI, India -- Reliance Industries Ltd. continues its success in deep Mesozoic targets with the Dhirubhai-36 discovery well, which hit oil in deepwater block KG-DWN-98/1 (KG-D4) in the Krishna basin.
This is the first oil discovery in the Krishna deepwater basin, Reliance says, and marks a new beginning in the basin. Dhirubhai-36, which lies in 565 m (1,854 ft) water depth, was drilled to a target depth of 3,595 m (11,795 ft). The well encountered clastic reservoir with a gross oil column of more than 20 m (66 ft) in the Mesozoic section.
Encouraged by successes in the Godavari and Cauvery deeper Mesozoic plays, Reliance continued its exploration effort in Krishna offshore, the company says. This oil discovery comes after nearly two decades of exploration in the area, including more than 30 exploratory wells, Reliance says.
During drillstem testing, the well flowed 596 b/d of oil. The potential commercial interest of the discovery has not been determined.
Reliance has notified the government of India and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons of this discovery.
Reliance was awarded the KG-D4 deepwater block under India's first New Exploration Licensing Policy. The company holds 100% interest in the block, which covers 8,100 sq km (3,127 sq mi).
9/24/2007
