Reliance to complete Bay of Bengal exploration drilling

Reliance Industries has been instructed by India's Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to complete its commitment exploration drilling offshore India's east coast in the Bay of Bengal Block KG-DWN-2001/1 (D-9 Block).

Sources at Reliance said today that the company anticipates bringing the exploration phase of its operations in the 2.8 million acre D-9 Block to a close before the end of the year. The company has already drilled the first two of the required three wells and is expected to commence the third well right away. The first well, KG-D9-A1 was drilled to a total depth of 4,800 meters (15,749 ft). The second well has been partially completed.

In addition to the three-well exploratory drilling requirement in Reliance's minimum work program for the D-9 Block, it was required to undertake a minimum 1,650 sq km 3D seismic survey, which has been concluded with more than twice that area, some 4,000 sq km, shot and processed.

Reliance is the operator of Block KG-DWN-2001/1 with 90% interest in partnership with Hardy Exploration and Production India, the local subsidiary of Hardy Oil & Gas, holding the remaining 10%.