RIL announces seventh oil discovery in Cambay block

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced its seventh oil discovery in exploration block CB-ONN-2003/1 (CB 10 A&B), awarded under the NELP-V round of exploration bidding.

The well CB10A-N1 was drilled to a total depth of 1579m in Part A of the block with the objective of exploring the play fairway in the Miocene Basal Sand (MBS) of Babaguru and the Oligocene play of Tarapur Formations. The hydrocarbon bearing zone was identified from 1388-1403m in the Miocene Basal Sand (MBS) of Babaguru formation. Conventional production testing was carried out in the interval 1389-1400m.

The well flowed at a rate of 410 barrels of oil per day (bopd) through a 6-mm bean, with a flowing tubing head pressure of 360 psia.

The discovery is significant, as this play fairway is expected to open more oil pool areasleading to better hydrocarbon potential within the block. The block CB-ONN-2003/1 is located at a distance of nearly 130-km from Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the Cambay basin. The block covers an area of 635-sq km in two parts, viz. Part A & Part B. RIL, as Operator, holds 100% Participating Interest (PI) in the block.

While the entire block was covered with 2D seismic, nearly 80% of the block area has 3D seismic coverage. Of the 17 exploratory wells drilled in the block by RIL so far, 13 are located in Part A and the remaining 4 in Part B of the block. RIL is continuing further exploratory drilling efforts in the block.

This discovery, named ‘Dhirubhai–50’, the seventh oil discovery in the block so far, has been notified to the Government of India and to the Director General, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons. The potential commercial interest of the discovery is being ascertained through more data gathering and analysis.

This discovery supplements the understanding of the petroleum system in the Cambay basin in general and this block in particular. Based on interpretation of the acquired 3D seismic campaign in the contract area, several more prospects with upside potential have been identified at different stratigraphic levels.